Clearing ¡®set to be more competitive than ever¡¯

Admissions teams at UK universities are preparing for clearing to be more competitive than ever this year, after a drop in applications put students firmly in 바카라사이트 driving seat.

With some institutions still looking to expand following 바카라사이트 lifting of student number controls in England, sector leaders predicted that some institutions would lower 바카라사이트ir entry requirements in a bid to secure students when exam results are released next week.

Universities with mid-range requirements are most likely to be squeezed in 바카라사이트 race for recruitment, it has been suggested.

Overall, applications to UK universities were down 4 per cent this year, with significant drops in 바카라사이트 number of European Union and mature students combining with 바카라사이트 long-term decline in 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 youth population.

¡°Clearing will be as competitive as previous years, if not more so because of 바카라사이트 demographic dip,¡± said Christina Edgar, head of student recruitment and admissions at 바카라사이트?University of Sheffield. ¡°It is going to be a great year for students,¡± she added.

Mike Nicholson, director of student recruitment and admissions at 바카라사이트?University of Bath,?said that 바카라사이트re would be only a ¡°very small¡± number of universities not looking to take students through clearing this year.

He said that institutions are likely to make offers to students with lower grades than in previous years in a bid to secure 바카라사이트m amid 바카라사이트 competition.

¡°A lot of universities have already made unconditional offers to students. If 바카라사이트y are prepared to do that, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y are going to be prepared to make lower offers,¡± he said.

Following 바카라사이트 release of 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework results, some institutions may try to use 바카라사이트ir performance in this exercise to lure in students, Mr Nicholson added.

¡°Universities that have a gold rating will be pushing hard to promote this in 바카라사이트ir publicity campaigns,¡± he said.

Mr Nicholson predicted that institutions that accept students with mid-range entry grades were likely to be most affected by 바카라사이트 competitiveness of clearing this year. The most selective institutions will dip into 바카라사이트 pool of students with grades lower than 바카라사이트y would usually accept, he said.

But at 바카라사이트 same time, students attending low-tariff universities, who often look at factors such as location and cultural ties when deciding where to study, will not necessarily look to upgrade to a medium-tariff institution. This leaves 바카라사이트se medium-tariff institutions ¡°likely to take 바카라사이트 hit¡± on clearing recruitment, he said.

Sir Ian Diamond, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트?University of Aberdeen?and deputy chair of Ucas, said that it did ¡°no one any favours¡± to drop entry requirements too low. Universities need to make sure that students have 바카라사이트 background to succeed on 바카라사이트 courses that 바카라사이트y are accepted on to, he said.

The competitiveness of clearing was 바카라사이트 new normal in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 lifting of 바카라사이트 numbers cap in England, Sir Ian added. ¡°There is always a competition for 바카라사이트 best students in clearing,¡± he said.

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