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The '''Joint Academic Coding System''' (JACS) system iswas used by the [[Higher Education Statistics Agency]] (HESA) and the [[Universities and Colleges Admissions Service]] (UCAS) in the [[United Kingdom]] to classify academic subjects. It was replaced by the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) and the Common Aggregation Hierarchy (CAH) for the 2019/20 academic year.<ref name=farewell>{{cite web|url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/blog/28-04-2017/farewell-jacs-and-hello-hecos|title=Farewell to JACS, and hello to HECoS|publisher=HESA|date=27 April 2017|accessdate=10 May 2017}}</ref>
 
A JACS code for a single subject consists of a letter and three numbers. The letter represents the broad subject classification, e.g. F for physical sciences. The first number represents the principal subject area, e.g. F3 for physics, and subsequent numbers represent further details, similar to the [[Dewey Decimal Classification|Dewey Decimal System]]. ForThe principal subject of physics, for example, Fis representsbroken theinto 19 Physicaldetailed Sciencessubjects, represented by a letter plus three numbers: e.g., F300 Physicsrepresents physics, F330 Environmentalenvironmental Physicsphysics, and F331 Atmosphericatmospheric Physicsphysics.
 
==History==
 
HESA and UCAS used to operate two different (though similar) subject coding systems - HESAcode and Standard Classification of Academic Subjects (SCAS) respectively. In 1996 a joint project was launched to bring these two systemsystems together to create a unified structure. A project team was established with two people from each of the two organisationsorganizations. The project team became known as JACS since this was an acronym of their names (Jonathan Waller and Andy Youell from HESA, Clive Sillence and Sara Goodwins from UCAS).<ref name=farewell/>
 
The first operational version (v1.7) of the Joint Academic Coding System (retaining the JACS acronym) was published in 1999 and became operational in UCAS and HESA systems for the year 2002/03.
 
An update exercise took place in 2005 and JACS version 2 was introduced for the academic year 2007/08. JACS3JACS 3 was introduced for the 2012/13 year.
 
==Codes==
LettersThe areletter codes assigned to the subject groupsareas asand follows.the Noteletter that+ innumber JACS 3, Computer Science is split from Mathematics andcodes assigned codeto letterthe I,principal whilesubjects Engineeringin andJACS Technology3 are merged although continuing to use letters H and J.:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/support/documentation/jacs/jacs3-principal|title=JACS 3.0: Principal subject codes|publisher=HESA|accessdate=9 May 2017}}</ref>
 
{| class="wikitable"
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| B || (2) Subjects allied to medicine || B0 Broadly-based programmes within subjects allied to medicine<br/> B1 [[Outline of anatomy|Anatomy]], physiology and pathology<br/> B2 Pharmacology, toxicology and pharmacy<br/> B3 Complementary medicines, therapies and well-being<br/> B4 [[Outline of nutrition|Nutrition]]<br/> B5 Ophthalmics<br/> B6 Aural and oral sciences<br/> B7 Nursing<br/> B8 Medical Technology<br/> B9 Others in subjects allied to medicine
|-
| C || (3) Biological sciences || C0 Broadly-based programmes within biological sciences<br/> C1 [[Outline of biology|Biology]]<br/> C2 [[Outline of botany|Botany]]<br/> C3 [[Outline of zoology|Zoology]]<br/> C4 [[Outline of genetics|Genetics]]<br/> C5 Microbiology<br/> C6 Sports and exercise science<br/> C7 Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry<br/> C8 [[Outline of psychology|Psychology]]<br/> C9 Others in biological sciences
|-
| D || (4) Veterinary science || D1 Pre-clinical veterinary medicine<br/> D2 Clinical veterinary medicine and dentistry
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| F || (6) [[Outline of physical science|Physical sciences]] || F0 Broadly-based programmes within physical sciences<br/> F1 [[Outline of chemistry|Chemistry]]<br/> F2 Materials science<br/> F3 [[Outline of physics|Physics]]<br/> F4 [[Outline of forensic science|Forensic]] and [[Outline of archaeology|Archaeological]] sciences<br/> F5 Astronomy<br/> F6 [[Outline of geology|Geology]]<br/> F7 Science of aquatic and terrestrial environments<br/> F8 [[Outline of geography#Physical geography|Physical geographical sciences]]<br/> F9 Others in physical sciences
|-
| G || (7) Mathematical sciences || G1 [[Outline of mathematics|Mathematics]]<br/> G2 [[Operations Research|Operational research]]<br/> G3 [[Outline of statistics|Statistics]]<br/> G9 Others in mathematical sciences
|-
| I || (8) Computer science || I1 [[Outline of computer science|Computer science]]<br/> I2 Information systems<br/> I3 [[Outline of software engineering|Software engineering]]<br/> I4 [[Outline of artificial intelligence|Artificial intelligence]]<br/> I5 Health informatics<br/> I6 Games<br/> I7 Computer generated visual and audio effects<br/> I9 Others in computer science
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| H & J || (9) [[Outline of engineering|Engineering]] and [[Outline of technology|Technology]]|| H0 Broadly-based programmes within engineering and technology<br/> H1 General engineering<br/> H2 Civil engineering<br/> H3 Mechanical engineering<br/> H4 [[Outline of aerospace|Aerospace]] engineering<br/> H5 Naval architecture<br/> H6 Electronic and electronic engineering<br/> H7 [[Outline of production|Production]] and [[Outline of manufacturing|manufacturing]] engineering<br/> H8 [[Outline of chemical engineering|Chemical]], process and energy engineering<br/> J1 Minerals technology<br/> J2 [[Metallurgy]]<br/> J3 Ceramics and glass<br/> J4 Polymers and [[textile]]s<br/> J5 [[Materials science|Materials technology]] not otherwise specified<br/> J6 Maritime technology<br/> J7 Biotechnology<br/> J9 Others in technology
|-
| K || (A) Architecture, Buildingbuilding and Planningplanning || K100K0 Broadly-based programmes within architecture, building and planning<br/> K1 [[Outline of architecture|Architecture]],<br/> K200K2 Building,<br/> K400K3 Landscape and garden design<br/> K4 Planning (urban, rural and regional)<br/> K9 Others in architecture, building and planning
|-
| L || (B) Social studies || L100L0 Broadly-based programmes within social studies<br/> L1 [[Outline of economics|Economics]],<br/> L200L2 [[Outline of politics|Politics]],<br/> L300L3 [[Outline of sociology|Sociology]],<br/> L400L4 Social Policy,policy<br/> L500L5 Social Work,work<br/> L600L6 [[Outline of anthropology|Anthropology]],<br/> L700L7 [[Outline of geography#Human geography|Human and Socialsocial Geographygeography]]<br/> L8 Development studies<br/> L9 Others in social studies
|-
| M || (C) [[Outline of law|Law]] || M100M0 Broadly-based programmes within law<br/> M1 Law by geographical area,<br/> M200M2 [[Outline of law#Branches of law|Law by topic]]<br/> M9 Others in law
|-
| N || (D) Business and Administrativeadministrative studies || N100N0 Broadly-based programmes within business and administrative studies<br/> N1 Business Studies,studies<br/> N200N2 [[Outline of business management|Management studies]],<br/> N300N3 [[Outline of finance|Finance]],<br/> N400N4 Accounting,<br/> N500N5 [[Outline of marketing|Marketing]]<br/> N6 Human resource management<br/> N7 Office skills<br/> N8 Hospitality, leisure, sport, tourism and transport<br/> N9 Others in business and administrative studies
|-
| P || (E) Mass Communicationscommunications and Documentationdocumentation || P300P0 Broadly-based programmes within mass communications and documentation<br/> P1 Information services<br/> P2 Publicity studies<br/> P3 Media Studies,studies<br/> P500P4 Publishing<br/> P5 [[Outline of journalism|Journalism]]<br/> P9 Others in mass communications and documentation
|-
| Q, R & T || (F) Languages || Q0 Broadly-based programmes within languages<br/> Q1 [[Outline of linguistics|Linguistics]]<br/> Q2 Comparative literary studies<br/> Q3 English studies<br/> Q4 Ancient language studies<br/> Q5 [[Celtic studies]]<br/> Q6 Latin studies<br/> Q7 Classical Greek studies<br/> Q8 Classical studies<br/> Q9 Others in linguistics, classics and related subjects<br/> R1 French studies<br/> R2 German studies<br/> R3 Italian studies<br/> R4 Spanish studies<br/> R5 Portuguese studies<br/> R6 Scandinavian studies<br/> R7 Russian and East European studies<br/> R8 European studies<br/> R9 Others in European languages, literature and related subjects<br/> T1 [[Outline of sinology|Chinese studies]]<br/> T2 Japanese studies<br/> T3 South Asian studies<br/> T4 Other Asian studies<br/> T5 [[African studies]]<br/> T6 Modern Middle Eastern studies<br/> T7 American studies<br/> T8 Australasian studies<br/> T9 Others in Eastern, Asiatic, African, American and Australasian languages, literature and related subjects
| Q || [[Outline of linguistics|Linguistics]], [[Outline of classical studies|Classics]] and related subjects || Q100 [[Outline of linguistics|Linguistics]], Q500 [[Celtic studies|Celtic Studies]]
|-
| V || (G) Historical and philosophical studies || V0 Broadly-based programmes within historical & philosophical studies<br/> V1 History by period<br/> V2 History by area<br/> V3 History by topic<br/> V4 Archaeology<br/> V5 Philosophy<br/> V6 Theology and religious studies<br/> V7 Heritage studies<br/> V9 Others in historical and philosophical studies
| R || European Languages, Literature and related subjects || R100 French Studies, R200 German Studies, R300 Italian Studies, R400 Hispanic Studies, R600 Scandinavian Studies, R700 Russian Studies
|-
| W || (H) Creative arts and design || W0 Broadly-based programmes within creative arts and design<br/> W1 Fine art<br/> W2 Design studies<br/> W3 Music<br/> W4 Drama<br/> W5 Dance<br/> W6 Cinematics and photography<br/> W7 Crafts<br/> W8 Imaginative writing<br/> W9 Others in creative arts and design
| T || Eastern, Asiatic, African, American and Australasian Languages, Literature and related subjects || T100 [[Outline of sinology|Chinese Studies]], T500 [[African studies|African Studies]]
|-
| X || (I) [[Outline of education|Education]] || X0 Broadly-based programmes within education<br/> X1 Training teachers<br/> X2 Research and study skills in education<br/> X3 Academic studies in education<br/> X9 Others in education
| V || Historical and Philosophical studies || V100 [[Outline of history#History by chronology|History by period]], V200 [[Outline of history#History by region|History by area]], V350 [[Outline of the visual arts#History of visual arts|History of Art]], V400 [[Outline of archaeology|Archaeology]], V500 [[Outline of philosophy|Philosophy]], V600 [[Outline of theology|Theology]] and Religious Studies
|-
| Y || (J) Combined studies || Y0 Combined▼
| W || Creative Arts and Design || W100 Fine Art, W200 [[Outline of design|Design]], W300 [[Outline of music|Music]], W400 Drama, W500 [[Outline of dance|Dance]], W600 Cinematics and [[Outline of photography|Photography]], W700 [[Outline of crafts|Crafts]], W800 Creative Writing
|-
| X || [[Outline of education|Education]] || X100 Training Teachers
|-
▲| Y || Combined studies ||
|-
| Z || Not used || Not used
|}
 
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==JACS Codes in the UCAS system==
Course codes in the UCAS system are assigned by course providers and do not necessarily correspond to the JACS codes of the course subject.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ucas.com/file/36576/download%3Ftoken%3DwKnv0Ur_|title=Full list of the current variables|publisher=UCAS|date=November 2016|quote=Please note: the course code is assigned to each course by the host provider and does not necessarily relate to JACS subject codes.|accessdate=10 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=March 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> UCAS course codes are four characters in length but, unlike JACS codes, may consist of any combination of letters and numbers in any order. However, historically UCAS created course codes from the JACS subject code, and many institutions continue to do this, which can lead to confusion between the two concepts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hediip.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/JACS_Report_2013-07.pdf|title=Classifying subject of study: A roadmap to a new Joint Academic Coding System| date=July 2013|publisher=Higher Education Data and Information Improvement Programme|accessdate=10 May 2017|page=29}}</ref>
UCAS creates course codes based on the JACS codes of the course subject. In many cases the UCAS course code will be the same as the JACS subject code and this can lead to confusion between the two concepts.
 
Where a course involves more than one subject the, UCAS historically created the course code is based on an aggregation of the JACS codes. For courses whichthat are split 50:50 between two subjects, a code with two letters and two numbers is used, which combines the simplestprincipal (highest level)subject codes whichthat would be used for the two subjects if studied as individual degrees.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220214158/https://www.ucas.com/he_staff/courses/jacs/codingprinciples|archive-date=20 December 2010|url=https://www.ucas.com/he_staff/courses/jacs/codingprinciple|publisher=UCAS|title=Course coding principles|accessdate=10 May 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
===Example===
Consider the BSc course '''Mathematics and Physics''':
*The simplestprincipal subject code for Mathematics iswas G100'''G1''', and the simplestprincipal subject code for Physics is F300'''F3'''.
*The combined codes used were '''GF13'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digital.ucas.com/courses/details?coursePrimaryId=971ecf84-8baf-0c4e-9e6c-86af084bca98&courseOptionId=42a85295-0a17-343c-680a-6eda9fe5f58a|title=Mathematics and Physics – University of Edinburgh|publisher=UCAS|accessdate=9 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=March 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and '''FG31'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digital.ucas.com/courses/details?coursePrimaryId=fc9d5b6d-0a2d-9475-b3b8-7fd46cb95966&courseOptionId=d643d300-cacf-39b7-7655-f0698b0fc757|title=Mathematics and Physics – University of Manchester|publisher=UCAS|accessdate=10 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=March 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*The combined code uses '''G1''' for Mathematics, and '''F3''' for Physics.
*The codes '''GFD3''', '''GF1H''' and '''GFH1''' were also used.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digital.ucas.com/courses/details?coursePrimaryId=2717f1c0-6716-2247-6427-bd91cce346d3&courseOptionId=2715730a-7cc2-8b9c-7ec1-a93e89e9dd7b|title=Mathematics and Physics – University of Bristol|publisher=UCAS|accessdate=10 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://digital.ucas.com/courses/details?coursePrimaryId=7de40e6d-6e82-ee6c-b270-89d7f4a91016&courseOptionId=549a2e3e-b1ab-f49d-780a-7928b0c2b5c2|title=Mathematics and Physics – University of Surrey|publisher=UCAS|accessdate=10 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=March 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://digital.ucas.com/courses/details?coursePrimaryId=7c8421b9-c8f2-c7fc-f16e-332f11b96dae&courseOptionId=7902fe7d-93b7-80b4-46bf-96385ab31d3b|title=Mathematics and Physics – University of Surrey (sandwich)|publisher=UCAS|accessdate=10 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=March 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*The combined code is '''GF13''' because the letters always precede the numbers.
 
Another example was '''Music and Philosophy'''. The principal subject codes were '''W3''' (Music) and '''V5''' (Philosophy). The combined codes used are '''WV35'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digital.ucas.com/courses/details?coursePrimaryId=4cda0d62-c344-54ff-4366-6923d47a1c16&courseOptionId=d1355c12-0f5c-0226-bccb-960dd320e0ec|title=Music and Philosophy – University of Nottingham|publisher=UCAS|accessdate=10 May 2017}}</ref> or '''VW35''',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digital.ucas.com/courses/details?coursePrimaryId=e36cff50-021c-36d0-e37a-4131d3ce26ad&courseOptionId=4f560230-1ba8-9164-05e7-b642636809a2|title=Music and Philosophy – University of Sheffield |publisher=UCAS|accessdate=10 May 2017}}</ref> while '''WV53''',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digital.ucas.com/courses/details?coursePrimaryId=ba5c79da-fe87-a452-7220-8a1d5dd10b07&courseOptionId=446cc56a-7a90-ee90-ffd2-7069e1f4d695|title=Music and Philosophy – Durham University|publisher=UCAS|accessdate=9 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=March 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> was also used.
Another example is '''Music and Philosophy'''. The codes are W300 (Music) and V500 (Philosophy). The combined code is VW53 (also represents "Philosophy and Music"). Although it could theoretically be WV53, the letters are placed in alphabetical order by convention, and the numbers are placed in the same order following the subjects.
 
The same letter cancould be used twice (if the two subjects arewere within the same general subject area), such as GG41'''FF53''' for Computer Science'''Astronomy and MathematicsPhysics'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digital.ucas.com/courses/details?coursePrimaryId=da6c889b-6c5d-7cb8-734e-ccd169d6f63a&courseOptionId=e71c28df-bce5-5dd0-5703-0b3850ef8c1c|title=Astronomy and Physics – University of Glasgow|publisher=UCAS|accessdate=9 May 2017}}</ref>
 
===Courses with major/minor subjects===
Coding iswas done differently for courses such as "Mathematics '''with''' Physics", which is not the same as "Mathematics '''and''' Physics".
 
The format for such courses iswas Y1Z9 where:
*Y100Y1 is the "major" subject which represents most of the degree course
*Z900Z9 is the "minor" subject which represents less of the course.
 
For example, Mathematics with Physics would be represented by G1F3, but Physics with Mathematics would be represented by F3G1. Hence the order in which the two subjects are notated iswas important historically.
 
==See also==
*[[List of fields of doctoral studies]]
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
==External links==
*[https://www.hesa.ac.uk/support/documentation/jacs/jacs1-7-detailed JACS 1.7 Classification (2002/03–2006/07) from HESA]
*[https://www.hesa.ac.uk/support/documentation/jacs/jacs2-detailed JACS 2.0 Classification (2007/08–2001108–2011/12) from HESA]
*[https://www.hesa.ac.uk/support/documentation/jacs/jacs3-detailed JACS 3.0 Classification (since 200122012/13) from HESA]
 
[[Category:Higher education in the United KingdomUCAS]]
[[Category:University and college admissions in the United Kingdom]]
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