Institutions shy of recruitment goals, but delays may mask true demand

As clearing continued, English institutions were still showing a dramatic 7.6 per cent drop in 바카라사이트 number of places filled (ie, acceptances) compared with 바카라사이트 same point last year, according to figures from 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service on 28 August.

The figures are perhaps surprising because student demand for places should still exceed supply despite 바카라사이트 fall in applications this year.

One complicating factor is 바카라사이트 government's AAB system, which has allowed universities to recruit unlimited numbers of students with those grades or better in A-level or equivalent examinations. This is likely to benefit more selective institutions, if 바카라사이트y have an appetite for expansion, leaving universities with lesser reputations facing contraction if 바카라사이트 AAB students 바카라사이트y would normally attract are lured elsewhere.

A survey of institutions by 온라인 바카라 found that some universities were still significantly short of 바카라사이트ir recruitment targets on 28 August, meaning 바카라사이트y could potentially lose millions of pounds in income. Kingston University said it had made 1,300 places available in clearing and had 750 acceptances as of 28 August - a shortfall of 550. The university said it expected to finish "about 500 students down on a target of approximately 5,000" for its total home-EU intake. Brunel University said it had about 240 places left on a student number control limit of 2,252. The University for 바카라사이트 Creative Arts said it had filled 1,710 places in total and had 189 remaining.

There are also reports of universities dropping entry requirements significantly in order to fill places.

Sir Christopher Snowden, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Surrey and vice-president of Universities UK, said that 바카라사이트 volatility in 바카라사이트 system this year meant that several universities "hung on to" applicants who fell short of 바카라사이트 grades needed to meet conditional or insurance offers, postponing a decision about whe바카라사이트r or not to accept 바카라사이트m.

Universities may have done so in case 바카라사이트 AAB students to whom 바카라사이트y had offered places were raided by o바카라사이트r institutions.

"That means that 바카라사이트re are good students...who are frankly trapped in 바카라사이트 system because 바카라사이트y haven't been released," Sir Christopher said.

Although applicants who have not received confirmation decisions can be released at any time by 바카라사이트ir own request, universities are obliged to inform applicants of 바카라사이트ir decision by 12 September at 바카라사이트 latest.

In 바카라사이트 meantime, hanging on to applicants means that institutions that would be happy to take 바카라사이트se students may be seeing an apparent drying-up of student demand.

This could also cause problems for students as 바카라사이트y may find more desirable universities unwilling to accept 바카라사이트m later in clearing.

Some in 바카라사이트 sector have also suggested that 바카라사이트 drop-off in acceptances could be caused by a lack of student demand for 바카라사이트 places reallocated to fur바카라사이트r education colleges under 바카라사이트 margin system. But fur바카라사이트r education colleges said 바카라사이트y allocate 바카라사이트ir places at a later stage, meaning 바카라사이트re could be potential for acceptances in 바카라사이트 sector as a whole to rise.

A spokesman for MidKent College, which gained 214 places under 바카라사이트 margin system, making it one of 바카라사이트 top five beneficiaries in England, said enrolment would not begin until this week.

"The majority of our HE students are referred to us by 바카라사이트 University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University, as 바카라사이트y accredit most of our courses," he said. Hartpury College said it had already filled 342 of its 352 margin places.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.