The universities admissions body is proposing that pupils should not apply for places until after getting their A-level results, and courses would start in January.
Ucas says that the system of making decisions based on predicted grades must change because they are inaccurate and can penalise disadvantaged students, who are likely to have lower predicted grades and are less likely to apply to selective universities.
It would also stop unconditional offers, which are rife at many universities, despite attempts to restrict them.
Ucas will publish two options for reform in the coming weeks. Under one proposal students would apply after they had received their A-level grades and university years would start in January. The other, less disruptive, suggestion is for candidates to apply in the
