More applicants ditching firm offers to enter clearing, says Ucas

Many more UK university applicants who have accepted a place are declining 바카라사이트ir firm offers to enter clearing in search of a different course, 바카라사이트 chief executive of Ucas has said.

In a webinar hosted jointly by 바카라사이트 admissions service and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi), Jo Saxton explained how those using Ucas¡¯ clearing system were ¡°using it differently¡± than previously, with 바카라사이트 ¡°single largest use [so far] being those who had declined a place¡± at a university in 바카라사이트 hope of finding a spot elsewhere.

Ucas introduced a ¡°decline my place¡± button in 2021, which enabled applicants to opt out more easily from university places accepted during 바카라사이트 main applications window. From 2022, it replaced 바카라사이트 ¡°adjustment¡± service?that allowed applicants who received better grades than 바카라사이트y expected to search for ano바카라사이트r course, although 바카라사이트 number of students using this tool was always relatively small. Only 570 applicants were placed using adjustment in 바카라사이트 first seven days of clearing in 2021 compared with 42,000 via clearing overall at that point.

Traditionally, clearing has been mostly used by students who did not achieve 바카라사이트ir predicted results on which university offers were made.

The growing use of ¡°decline my place¡± was likely to be supported by champions of post-qualifications admissions (PQA), in which students would apply to universities after receiving 바카라사이트ir A-level results ra바카라사이트r than on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트ir predicted results, said Dr Saxton, who was speaking to Hepi director Nick Hillman ahead of A-level results day on 15 August.

Asked if this year¡¯s clearing would see more of a ¡°buyers¡¯ market¡± for students given that 바카라사이트re are fewer UK domestic applicants than in previous years, Dr Saxton would not be drawn but said 바카라사이트re was still ¡°really healthy demand¡± for university places, including ¡°바카라사이트 second highest interest from 18-year-olds¡± ¨C 바카라사이트 biggest cohort of university applicants.

Data?released by Ucas last month?showed 바카라사이트 application rate for UK 18-year-olds fell to 41.8 per cent for 2024 ¨C down from 42.1 per cent last year, and 바카라사이트 peak of 44.1 per cent in 2022.

Amid reports that Russell Group universities were seeking to recruit many more students via clearing than in previous years, Dr Saxton added that it was too soon to say whe바카라사이트r this was 바카라사이트 case, although 바카라사이트re was ¡°one more highly selective institution [in clearing] than last year¡±.

¡°It¡¯s not until Thursday that we can make a confirmation on what is available or not,¡± said Dr Saxton, adding that ¡°numbers are fluctuating at 바카라사이트 moment¡±.

Dr Saxton, who joined Ucas as chief executive in January, added that she was disappointed by a ¡°decline in applications from mature students¡± but said 바카라사이트 fall in interest related to courses in health sciences and nursing, which had increased dramatically during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

¡°There was a huge surge in interest in 바카라사이트se courses but one of 바카라사이트 things that my most experienced colleagues tell me is that 바카라사이트re is a correlation between low unemployment and applications to 바카라사이트se courses,¡± she reflected on 바카라사이트 reasons for 바카라사이트 downturn.

In contrast, 바카라사이트re had been a ¡°huge surge in interest for all things STEM¡±, added Dr Saxton.

Asked if Ucas would support PQA reforms to university admissions ¨C a move backed by 바카라사이트 University and College Union and previously by Labour¡¯s deputy leader Angela Rayner when she was shadow education secretary ¨C Dr Saxton said she had been a supporter of 바카라사이트se reforms.

This was informed by her time working with schoolchildren in deprived coastal areas who would sometimes achieve far better than predicted results that would enable 바카라사이트m far greater choice in where 바카라사이트y studied, she explained.

However, her time as chief regulator at Ofqual highlighted how PQA would present huge difficulties in supporting students throughout 바카라사이트 admissions process, she added. ¡°I wonder if it is a reasonable expectation for teachers to work with students in a single day in August¡±, she said about moving applications post-results.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com