A working group of academics and school teachers had been considering ways in which to operate the system to make the admissions process simpler and less stressful.

Under the proposed new system - called post qualifications admissions - students would only have made a formal application for a place once their results were known.

But the concept has now been dropped. Instead, consultation among members of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) and academic registrars has produced a separate five-point plan as a suggested way of simplifying the current system.

'Still a long way off'

Professor Martin Harris, Chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the UK (CVCP) outlined the new alternative ideas at a Secondary Heads Association conference on post-16 qualifications in London.

Most students apply for university places before sitting their A levels

He said a post qualifications admissions system was still "a long way off". Discussions about the system at "grass roots" level within higher education, further education and schools had shown a "marked lack of support" for the most recent proposal.

"My belief is similar to that of the prime minister on the question of the euro," he said. "We cannot come to a conclusion on a post qualifications admissions system until the conditions are right."

The three main conditions were a later start to the university academic year, an earlier availability of A level results, and a universal adoption of the new AS levels, Prof Harris said.

Improvements

At present, most students apply to universities before sitting their A levels, leading to the complications of the 'clearing' process under which those with lower than expected grades are matched with spare places. More than 50,000 people went down this route in 1998.

Prof Harris outlined five ways in which the existing arrangements could be improved. They were:

• A later closing date for applications - perhaps as late as February - using new electronic processes. The present deadline is mid-December - even October for some courses.

• More students sitting the new AS level qualifications in the lower sixth, allowing those predicting their A level grades a clearer indication of their likely performance.

• Making the entry criteria for courses clearer to potential students - for example, giving details of necessary skills and attributes candidates will need other than A level grades.

• 'Blind decision-making' - not telling admissions tutors of a candidate's other university choices. However, Professor Harris wanted to reassure applicants that tutors were not influenced by having this information.

• Abolition of the conditional 'insurance' offer currently made to students.

Members of Ucas will consult on the proposals this autumn, and the result of the consultation is expected to go before the Ucas board towards the end of the year.

Prof Harris called on secondary school headteachers to support the proposals.

He said: "If all sectors were in agreement with this agenda, I would be urging my colleagues to give it a high priority, for change with effect from the 2003 year of entry admissions cycle."