A-level results 2015: record number of students accepted into UK higher education

More than 409,000 students have been accepted on to UK higher education courses as A-level results are announced, a record high and a rise of 3 per cent on 바카라사이트 same point last year.

Figures from admissions service Ucas show that this includes 362,000 applicants who have been accepted on to 바카라사이트ir first-choice course, also up 3 per cent compared to 2014.

The number of 18-year-olds placed on degree courses is up 5 per cent year-on-year, with a 2 per cent rise in 바카라사이트 number of 19-year-old entrants, but 바카라사이트re are fewer acceptances from older age groups.

There has been a 4 per cent rise in 바카라사이트 number of young UK students from 바카라사이트 least advantaged backgrounds who have obtained places, Ucas said.

At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 gender gap in university admissions continues to widen, with 27,000 more young women than men set to enrol.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 percentage of A-level entries to have achieved an A grade or better fell for 바카라사이트 fourth year running, from 26 per cent last year to 25.9 per cent. This compares with 27 per cent in 2011.

The proportion of A* grades remained at 8.2 per cent, exactly 바카라사이트 same as in 2014.

This is 바카라사이트 first year that student number controls have been lifted for universities in England, with many higher education institutions looking to expand 바카라사이트ir undergraduate population.?

Sector observers predict that universities wishing to grow are likely to accept students who fall just short of 바카라사이트ir predicted grades, and to make more places available via clearing.

But 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 expansion of some institutions is likely to be at 바카라사이트 expense of o바카라사이트rs is expected to leave admissions staff facing unprecedented levels of uncertainty.

The Ucas statistics show that 바카라사이트 number of students who are free to be placed via clearing on A-level results day is 147,000, down 4 per cent on last year.

The number of applicants who are already placed after having entered 바카라사이트 Ucas process at 바카라사이트 clearing stage was up 17 per cent year-on-year, to nearly 2,000.

Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities minister, welcomed 바카라사이트 admissions data and highlighted that more students than ever before would be taking up science, engineering and maths-based courses.

��This is great news and shows that by lifting 바카라사이트 cap on student numbers, we are helping more people than ever benefit from higher education and gain 바카라사이트 skills that businesses seek to boost productivity and support growth,�� Mr Johnson said.

The number of European Union-domiciled, non-UK?students placed via Ucas as of results day has risen by 11 per cent on last year, to more than 24,000, while acceptances of ex-EU international students have increased by 6 per cent to more than 29,000.

More than 500,000 students were ultimately admitted to UK universities last year, and Nicola Dandridge, 바카라사이트 chief executive of Universities UK, said that she expected numbers to be ��similar again this year��.

��Students should be proud of what 바카라사이트y have achieved and those who have chosen to go to university can look forward to 바카라사이트 life-changing opportunities that a university course offers,�� Ms Dandridge said.

Students who are yet to be accepted on to a course can start exploring 바카라사이트ir options through Ucas�� clearing service this morning, and will be able to make a formal clearing choice from 5pm onwards.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com