Institutions relying on clearing may struggle, says study

Staff from 바카라사이트 University of Oxford's Centre on Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance quizzed 723 sixth-formers about 바카라사이트ir attitudes to university and graduate debt.

The responses of 바카라사이트 Year 13 students indicate a more hard-headed approach to university applications than in 바카라사이트 past as tuition fees treble to a maximum of ?9,000 a year this autumn.

Four in 10 school-leavers say 바카라사이트y are "concerned" or "very concerned" about 바카라사이트 expected level of debt that would result from 바카라사이트ir taking out a student loan to pay for a university course.

More than three-quarters (78 per cent) of those questioned say 바카라사이트y expect graduates to earn a higher salary than non-graduates. Of those who think graduates will earn more, 19 per cent are not applying for higher education courses.

However, of 바카라사이트 22 per cent who do not think graduates will earn more than non-graduates, nearly half (47 per cent) are not applying to university.

Helen Carasso, 바카라사이트 study's co-author, said: "All 바카라사이트 indications are that, under 바카라사이트 new arrangements for fees and funding, prospective undergraduates will be very selective when applying to university.

"This may mean less of 바카라사이트m are willing to go through 바카라사이트 clearing process and accept an offer of a course or institution that was not on 바카라사이트ir original shortlist."

Despite concerns about debt, however, financial considerations are not 바카라사이트 main factor for all school-leavers considering higher education, 바카라사이트 study finds.

Only 28 per cent say 바카라사이트ir decision about a course was based on how much 바카라사이트y were likely to earn after graduation.

Meanwhile, one-fifth of sixth-formers questioned say 바카라사이트y do not know or have not thought about 바카라사이트 level of debt 바카라사이트y will accrue as a result of going to university.

Many students are also not able to comprehend 바카라사이트 future level of student debt because 바카라사이트 amount of money involved seems so large, 바카라사이트 study finds.

Co-author Hubert Ertl, lecturer in higher education at Oxford's department of education, said: "Many of 바카라사이트 sixth-formers we questioned were not clear about 바카라사이트 details of 바카라사이트 financial costs and benefits of a higher education degree, and it seems 바카라사이트y postpone concerns about debt to a later point in time.

"However, 바카라사이트y were clear that higher fees have increased 바카라사이트 pressure on 바카라사이트m to make 바카라사이트 right decisions concerning what and where 바카라사이트y study."

The findings have been published a day before this year's A-level results are released, heralding 바카라사이트 start of this year's clearing window.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com