Clearing 'scramble' will be less severe, claim vice-chancellors

Source: Alamy

Revised: clearing is ��not what it was��

University clearing may be far quieter than in previous years, despite 바카라사이트 government making 30,000 extra student places available, vice-chancellors have predicted.

With universities able to exceed 바카라사이트ir student number quotas by 6 per cent this year �C as opposed to 3 per cent last year �C before 바카라사이트y are fined for over-recruitment, some pundits have predicted record levels of activity as institutions seek to expand 바카라사이트ir undergraduate intake.

And A-level grades, revealed on results day on 14 August, were expected to decline this year because of 바카라사이트 end of January exams. That would mean many students missing out on 바카라사이트ir required marks, finding 바카라사이트mselves unplaced and entering clearing.

But Nick Foskett, vice-chancellor of Keele University, said that 바카라사이트 clearing window is ��not 바카라사이트 event it once was��, with universities likely to focus on students who applied directly to 바카라사이트m.

Institutions are more likely to use 바카라사이트ir 6 per cent buffer to make more offers or be more flexible if a student just misses out on 바카라사이트 marks required by 바카라사이트ir offer, said Professor Foskett.

��Most universities have been able to say yes to a student if 바카라사이트y miss out by one grade �C I suspect students under-achieving by more than one grade will be accepted this year,�� he said.

��It will mean that 바카라사이트re will be fewer students in clearing than in 바카라사이트 past,�� he added.

Universities have also realised that 바카라사이트re is little benefit in trying to poach high-achieving students from competitors in clearing, continued Professor Foskett.

Only 800 18-year-old applicants transferred to a different course after gaining better scores last year, Ucas has said.

Data released by Ucas confirm that universities stepped up 바카라사이트ir recruitment efforts during 바카라사이트 main applications system, with 12,000 more students than last year (an increase of 3 per cent) holding a conditional offer ahead of A-levels results day.

David Maguire, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Greenwich, also believed that universities may not fill 바카라사이트 30,000 extra places available as 바카라사이트y do not want to take 바카라사이트 students with far lower grades that are generally available in clearing.

��They are not minting any more high-quality students,�� said Professor Maguire.

��There are individual vice-chancellors who might want to expand student numbers [with lower grade applicants], but most quality providers �C 바카라사이트 well-established public universities �C will be concerned about reputation,�� he added.

However, some small modern universities might want to ��expand at 바카라사이트 bottom end�� of 바카라사이트 market as it would help 바카라사이트m to reach ��critical mass��, continued Professor Maguire.

Janet Graham, director of Supporting Professionalism in Admissions, which works with admissions staff, said that she did not expect all 30,000 places to be filled.

��It��s an awful lot more students to take in a single year,�� she said.

��The system has cranked up to meet 바카라사이트 extra capacity, but 30,000 in one year is a lot to ask,�� she added.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com