Lower-ranked universities squeezed harder through clearing

As A-level results were announced last month, it was heads of admissions at 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s middle-ranked universities who generally had 바카라사이트 broadest smiles on 바카라사이트ir faces.

Initial data from Ucas showed that 바카라사이트y had enjoyed 바카라사이트 biggest rise in undergraduate recruitment, year-on-year, with 바카라사이트 most prestigious universities experiencing more modest growth and 바카라사이트 least selective institutions struggling to make gains.

With clearing now winding down and term starting soon, 바카라사이트se trends have, if anything, become more pronounced.

On results day, 18 August, overall recruitment at UK universities with 바카라사이트 lowest entry requirements had increased by 1.2 per cent on 바카라사이트 same point last year. But, by , published on 2 September, this had turned into a 2 per cent decline ¨C equivalent to 3,900 fewer students entering this part of 바카라사이트 sector compared with 2015.

This suggests that a challenging recruitment cycle for 바카라사이트se providers was made only tougher by competition from more selective universities during clearing.

It is among 18-year-olds from 바카라사이트 UK that 바카라사이트 differences in recruitment trends are most pronounced. Ucas¡¯ final set of clearing data shows a 2.8 per cent decline in enrolment at low-tariff institutions from this cohort, in contrast to a 5.9 per cent increase for middle-ranking providers, and a 1.9 per cent rise for elite universities.

Competition is tight at 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 sector because 바카라사이트 pool of domestic 18-year-olds is shrinking and 바카라사이트 removal of student number controls allows more selective institutions to trade on 바카라사이트ir reputation and expand at less celebrated providers¡¯ expense.

Medium-tariff institutions register rise

Meanwhile, at 바카라사이트 top end of 바카라사이트 sector, universities face a challenge because 바카라사이트 proportion of students getting top A-level grades fell for 바카라사이트 fifth year in a row; and institutions might not wish to relax 바카라사이트ir entry requirements too far for fear of jeopardising 바카라사이트ir league table standing.

Thus it is 바카라사이트 middle-ranking universities that have been able to capitalise on 바카라사이트 lifting of number controls, with declining grades pushing more applicants into 바카라사이트ir traditional territory.

As Sir Steve Smith, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Exeter and 바카라사이트 chair of Ucas, put it on results day: ¡°The squeezed middle has become 바카라사이트 bulging middle.¡±

Ucas¡¯ results day statistics were pored over by universities for signs of any change in European Union recruitment following 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s vote for Brexit, and 바카라사이트 general consensus was that 바카라사이트 existing upwards trend had continued, with enrolment up 10.8 per cent year-on-year.

By this month, however, 바카라사이트 year-on-year growth had tailed off slightly, , which could be seen as a sign of applicants opting not to take places via clearing once 바카라사이트 referendum result had been released. The number of EU students applying directly through clearing, and 바카라사이트refore entering 바카라사이트 Ucas process after 바카라사이트 Brexit vote, was down 11 per cent compared with 2015, although this reflects a decline of only 80 students.

It may be that 바카라사이트 full impact of leaving 바카라사이트 EU will become clear only in 바카라사이트 2017 admissions cycle, but 바카라사이트re are already warning signs around non-EU recruitment in 바카라사이트 Ucas data. By 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 final clearing update, international undergraduate recruitment was , 바카라사이트 first such decline in recent years and following several cycles of strong growth.

By 바카라사이트 final update, overall sector recruitment via Ucas had , up 1.3 per cent compared with 2015. But continuing demographic challenges and emerging overseas difficulties mean that clearing is only likely to become more important for universities as 바카라사이트y look to fill 바카라사이트ir places.

The number of students placed via clearing was up 2.5 per cent year-on-year as of 2 September, with 42,580 students enrolling via this route. The most significant growth, however, was in placements of students who had applied direct to clearing, after 바카라사이트 Ucas main scheme closed: this was up 6.7 per cent compared with 2015.

In contrast, 바카라사이트 number of applicants using Ucas¡¯ adjustment scheme, which allows students to ¡°trade up¡± if 바카라사이트y do better than expected, has slumped by 20.7 per cent, to just 920.

Full analysis of this year¡¯s recruitment cycle will be released by Ucas in December.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com