With the increase in student numbers and political concern to ensure fair access to higher education, universities have been reviewing their admissions processes in order to improve their transparency, efficiency and effectiveness. The process contains relatively discrete activities--applications and admissions--in which both the applicants and the institutions' perspectives need to be accommodated. The Schwartz review, "Fair admissions to higher education," 2004, led to the setting up of the Supporting Professionalism in Admissions Programme (SPA), to lead on the continuing development of fair admissions in the higher education sector, in 2006. The Government also commissioned a consultation on improving the higher education applications process which led to further reforms to the current applications process and to the formation of the Delivery Partnership, a UK-wide higher education partnership of different stakeholders to implement the programme of reform. This policy briefing focuses on several aspects of admissions policy, including: (1) Entry profiles; (2) Admissions tests; (3) Adjustment period; (4) Feedback to unsuccessful applicants; (5) Information, advice and guidance; (6) Art and design courses; and (7) International, mature and part-time applicants. Annexed are: (1) The applications and admissions process; and (2) Who does what in applications and admissions. (Contains 33 notes.)