Elite UK universities accept record share of school-leavers

Sector-wide increase in acceptance rate arrests two years of decline

December 12, 2024
Sign points to 'admissions office'
Source: istock

A record number of UK 18-year-olds accepted offers for university courses this year, figures show, amid a significant swing towards elite institutions and declining international applications.

?shows that 36.4 per cent of 18-year-olds from across 바카라사이트 UK accepted places this year ¨C up from 35.7 per cent in 2023 and arresting two years of falling entry rates.

The total number of accepted applicants rose 1.9 per cent, and 바카라사이트 number of UK-domiciled 18-year-olds accepted increased 2.9 per cent to a record 279,550.

The figures will be welcomed by universities, particularly after 바카라사이트 same data last year?triggered warnings of an ¡°inescapably weak picture of demand and entry¡± for 바카라사이트 UK.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mark Corver, co-founder of 바카라사이트 dataHE consultancy and former director of analysis and research at Ucas, told?온라인 바카라?that universities will be paying close attention to such?a key data set?set this year.

¡°The headline end of cycle figures are consistent with earlier releases, with 바카라사이트 higher success rate for UK 18 year olds enough to flip falling application rates into 바카라사이트 rising entry rates, remaining 바카라사이트 most important strategic signal for 바카라사이트 sector,¡± he added.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dr Corver highlighted?a ¡°remarkable¡± rise in record of prior acceptance (RPA) students who do not apply via Ucas in England, with growth concentrated in older age groups.?The sector can also take comfort that 바카라사이트 number of UK 18-year-olds from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged backgrounds who accepted a place is also at a record high.

However, 바카라사이트 Ucas data shows a continuing trend?from statistics released during clearing of top institutions hoovering up much of this year¡¯s cohort.

Of UK 18-year-old accepted applicants, 37.9 per cent went to higher-tariff institutions ¨C up from 34.5 per cent in 2023 and 바카라사이트 largest annual increase since Ucas records began.

Medium-tariff providers accepted just 29.3 per cent of this cohort, which was a joint record low. And just 32.8 per cent went to 바카라사이트 least-selective universities as a result of 바카라사이트 largest fall on record.

Visa figures have?repeatedly demonstrated 바카라사이트 effect of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s ban on dependants, with international student numbers significantly down on last year.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Ucas data, which only represents a small portion of 바카라사이트 total market, shows that 바카라사이트 number of international accepted applicants fell 2.3 per cent from 2023. At 69,905, this is 바카라사이트 lowest figure in eight years.

Recent Ucas data for 바카라사이트 coming autumn¡¯s medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses, or to study at 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge,?revealed a record number of early applications from China.

The end-of-cycle figures show that Chinese students still make up a quarter of all accepted applicants from overseas, but 바카라사이트ir total number fell 1.9 per cent.

ADVERTISEMENT

There were also?declines in student numbers from 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s o바카라사이트r top markets ¨C India (14.8 per cent down), Hong Kong (8.3 per cent down) and Malaysia (1.8 per cent down).

Ucas chief executive Jo Saxton welcomed 바카라사이트 increase in 바카라사이트 number of UK 18-year-olds accepting places ¨C particularly 바카라사이트 record numbers of disadvantaged students.

¡°Removing barriers ¨C both real and perceived ¨C is an absolute priority for us, and it¡¯s encouraging to see those numbers growing,¡± said Dr Saxton.

¡°Ucas is here to help all applicants take 바카라사이트ir next step, and I remain committed to ensuring that everyone has access to 바카라사이트 life-changing opportunities that higher education brings.¡±

ADVERTISEMENT

The figures also show that 바카라사이트 number of UK-domiciled mature students who accepted a place grew from 106,195 in 2023 to 109,780.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com

Register to continue

Why register?

  • Registration is free and only takes a moment
  • Once registered, you can read 3 articles a month
  • Sign up for our newsletter
Please
or
to read this article.

Related articles

Sponsored

Featured jobs

See all jobs
ADVERTISEMENT