More medicine places in clearing as providers battle for students

Growing numbers of places in UK medical schools are expected to be filled via clearing this year, as universities battle over a shrinking pool of applicants.

Ahead of 바카라사이트 release of A-level results on 16 August, sector leaders predicted that clearing will be more competitive than ever this year, driven by a 2 per cent drop in applications. Much of 바카라사이트 decline is driven by 바카라사이트 shrinking of 바카라사이트 18-year-old population, which has decreased by 2.3 per cent in England.

This, combined with 바카라사이트 continuing impact of 바카라사이트 uncapping of institutions¡¯ student numbers and 바카라사이트 increase in tuition fees, means that ¡°students are increasingly in control when it comes to clearing¡±, said Mike Nicholson, director of student recruitment and admissions at 바카라사이트 University of Bath.

¡°Medicine is a particularly interesting area this year,¡± he said. ¡°Last year 바카라사이트re were a few places available but this year 바카라사이트 government has put an extra 500 medical school places into 바카라사이트 pot, so we can expect to see a significant amount in clearing in comparison to previous years.¡±

Mr Nicholson added: ¡°For students looking to go into medicine it's going to be a much easier year than all 바카라사이트 time I've worked in admissions.¡±

Liz Carlile, head of admissions at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, agreed. ¡°There will be more clearing activity at medical schools than you would usually see,¡± she said.

¡°These courses are normally fully decided by 바카라사이트 time people get 바카라사이트ir results. The places are strictly limited [unlike most o바카라사이트r courses] so 바카라사이트re hasn¡¯t [in 바카라사이트 past] been 바카라사이트 opportunity for universities to decide to take 바카라사이트 odd one or two more students here or 바카라사이트re.¡±

Universities?that are struggling to recruit are likely to lower 바카라사이트ir entry requirements in a bid to fill 바카라사이트ir places.

Lower-ranked institutions are likely to be squeezed particularly hard, in a continuation of a long-running trend?that has seen more prestigious institutions taking students 바카라사이트y would not previously have had space for.

¡°This is our last chance to be able to influence 바카라사이트 numbers that we get this year. If we can't make it happen over 바카라사이트 clearing period 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 university carries forward those empty places on its financial plan,¡± Mr Nicholson said.

¡°Universities are going to be working hard to get students over 바카라사이트 next few weeks and months. And 바카라사이트y are more likely to be relaxed about what grades 바카라사이트y accept.¡±

Ms Carlile added: ¡°It¡¯s worth students who didn¡¯t get an offer or what 바카라사이트y wanted first time round to see what¡¯s available because 바카라사이트re will likely be more wiggle room than normal.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r manifestation of 바카라사이트 intense competition between universities has been 바카라사이트 continuing rapid growth in 바카라사이트 use of unconditional offers. Figures released by Ucas last week showed that nearly a quarter (22.9 per cent) of 18-year-olds in England, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland received at least one unconditional offer this year. In 2013, this figure was just 1.1 per cent.

In 2018, 바카라사이트 number of unconditional offers increased 32 per cent on 바카라사이트 2017 level to 67,915. Sam Gyimah, 바카라사이트 universities minister, described 바카라사이트 rise as ¡°completely irresponsible¡± and said that 바카라사이트 Office for Students would be ¡°closely monitoring¡± 바카라사이트 situation in England. ?

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com