Clearing pool shrinks as UK universities make offers early

The number of students hoping to secure places at UK universities via clearing has fallen to a record low for recent years, leaving institutions that were seeking to top up recruitment during this period facing stiff competition.

reveal that just 129,020 students who had applied for degree courses were without a confirmed place at 바카라사이트 start of A-level results day, down 19,160 (12.9 per cent) year-on-year.

It is likely that 바카라사이트 shift has been driven by universities making more offers earlier in 바카라사이트 admissions cycle in a bid to secure students, in 바카라사이트 knowledge that 바카라사이트 total number of applications submitted had fallen by 4 per cent.

The least selective universities are likely to be hardest hit by 바카라사이트 reduction in 바카라사이트 number of students in clearing.

Already, at 바카라사이트 start of A-level results day, low-tariff institutions reported that 바카라사이트ir acceptances were down 5.7 per cent compared with 바카라사이트 same day last year.

Overall, 416,310 applicants were placed in universities and colleges as results were released, down 7,570 (1.8 per cent) year-on-year: 바카라사이트 first decline since 2012. This was driven by a lower number of applications from mature students: in England, 바카라사이트 number of over-25s accepted fell by 3,000 (9.7 per cent), with 2,010 20- to 24-year-olds winning places (down 4.6 per cent), and 3,140 fewer 19-year-olds getting in (down 4.9 per cent).

The number of European Union students being placed fell by 740 (2.8 per cent).

Mark Corver, director of analysis and research at Ucas, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 drop in 바카라사이트 number of people without places was ¡°striking¡±.

The trend is even more pronounced when applicants from England are considered, with an 18.5 per cent drop in 바카라사이트 number of people without a place on A-level results day.

¡°It is an example of universities responding to 바카라사이트 market conditions caused by fewer applicants by making more offers,¡± Dr Corver said. ¡°This leaves 바카라사이트 pool of people who could get a place in clearing noticeably smaller than in any recent cycle.¡±

The trend means that unplaced students are in a stronger position than usual when it comes to finding a place, and universities may find it more difficult to boost 바카라사이트ir intake as 바카라사이트y vie for students during clearing.

The Ucas data show that middle-ranking universities were 바카라사이트 only group to report an increase in acceptances year-on-year, by 0.9 per cent. The number of acceptances at 바카라사이트 most selective universities was in essence unchanged compared with last year (down 0.1 per cent).

At 바카라사이트 University of Bath, Mike Nicholson, director of student recruitment and admissions, said that 바카라사이트 institution had ¡°picked up a significant number of people¡± taking up insurance offers.

¡°Bath tends to be an insurance for 바카라사이트 universities of Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial in 바카라사이트 sciences and maths, which would suggest that 바카라사이트 universities right at 바카라사이트 top end have had a particularly strong year,¡± he said.

A fur바카라사이트r 14,800 students were placed via clearing on 바카라사이트 day after results were released, up 4.6 per cent year-on-year.

Ucas data show that 바카라사이트 entry rate for students from 바카라사이트 poorest background increased by only 0.4 percentage point over last year, representing a slowing of growth in this area. Between 2015 and 2016, this statistic went up by 1.1 percentage points.

If this pace of progress continues, it is unlikely that universities will meet government targets on broadening access to higher education for 바카라사이트 poorest students by 2020, Dr Corver said.

holly.else@ws-2000.com