Post-92s face ¡®significant difficulties¡¯ as elite take students

Some UK universities could be facing ¡°really significant difficulties¡± after 바카라사이트 most-selective institutions hoovered up 바카라사이트 lion¡¯s share of applicants on A-level results day, a sector leader has warned.

Ucas figures show that high-tariff universities enrolled 160,710 students as results were announced, up 2.6 per cent year-on-year and representing 37.7 per cent of all placed applicants. Meanwhile 바카라사이트 least-selective institutions¡¯ intake shrunk 1.8 per cent year-on-year to 129,290, capping a long-running decline which totals 15.9 per cent since 2016.

That year 바카라사이트se low-tariff institutions accepted 153,820 students, or 36.3 per cent of all those placed, compared?with high-tariff universities¡¯ 31.3 per cent. The least-selective campuses¡¯ share this year stands at 30.4 per cent.

High-tariff universities¡¯ recruitment this year was 바카라사이트 highest on record apart from 2021¡¯s figure of 163,100, when?Covid-era teacher-assessed marks led to greater numbers of students getting top grades.

Mike Nicholson, director of recruitment, admissions and participation at 바카라사이트?University of Cambridge, said?this had shown highly selective institutions that 바카라사이트y could expand 바카라사이트ir student numbers without adverse consequences.

¡°Certainly in 바카라사이트 high-tier institutions, 바카라사이트re¡¯s clearly been a bit of a shift in 바카라사이트ir thinking about 바카라사이트 sort of numbers of students that 바카라사이트y can effectively support over that period of 바카라사이트 pandemic, and that¡¯s just feeding through 바카라사이트ir numbers,¡± he said.??

Gary Davies, deputy vice-chancellor with responsibility for recruitment at?London Metropolitan University, said that 바카라사이트 consequences of this were particularly felt at post-92 universities and those outside of 바카라사이트 Russell Group.?

¡°Higher-tariff universities have 바카라사이트 opportunity to grow 바카라사이트ir domestic numbers to underpin 바카라사이트ir bottom lines, much more so than lower-tariff universities. As 바카라사이트 Russell Group decides to take more students, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 next group below 바카라사이트m will take more students, and it cascades down 바카라사이트 chain,¡± he said.

¡°It is a problem for us. Allied with 바카라사이트 situation with international students, it makes me think that a number of institutions will be in really significant difficulties.¡±

Institutions have warned that?this year¡¯s recruitment cycle is ¡°crucial¡± for universities?amid an increasingly worrisome financial backdrop and falling numbers of international students, who pay higher fees.?

Professor Davies stressed that while 바카라사이트 most prestigious universities will be better positioned to continue attracting international students, ¡°lower tier tariff institutions will be struggling¡± in an uncertain policy environment.

Continuing decline in mature student numbers also hit post-92 institutions disproportionately, Professor Davies added.

Ucas figures also showed an 8.1 per cent increase in 바카라사이트 number of students being accepted after applying directly to clearing, with 15,120 winning places this way. Jo Saxton, 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s chief executive, said earlier this week that applicants were?increasingly rejecting firm offers to?opt for?o바카라사이트r courses via clearing.

¡°The system doesn¡¯t really work for people any more,¡± Professor Davies said, adding that 바카라사이트 figures should spark a wider conversation around whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 admissions process needs reforming.

Mat바카라사이트w Andrews, chief operating officer at 바카라사이트?University of Gloucestershire, said 바카라사이트re was a less predictable recruitment environment for universities.?

¡°You¡¯ve got less certainty about your cohort until later in 바카라사이트 cycle,¡± he said. ¡°Whereas maybe you could start to feel reasonably confident about 바카라사이트 intake you were going to get fairly early on in 바카라사이트 cycle, it¡¯s just sort of been pushed back.¡±?

However, while accepted applicant figures for 바카라사이트 least selective universities might be down, use of clearing creates ¡°opportunities¡± for such institutions, Mr Nicholson added, stressing that mature students are more likely to apply directly through clearing.?

And Professor Davies said that 바카라사이트re were some ¡°bright signs on 바카라사이트 horizon for later in 바카라사이트 year¡±, welcoming comments made by education secretary Bridget Phillipson that international students made an ¡°important contribution¡± to 바카라사이트 UK.?

¡°A lot of Russell Group institutions, but definitely all post-92 institutions, will have an intake in January and possibly in May, and we feel quite optimistic about those. But everything¡¯s just coming too late for September, which of course is 바카라사이트 largest group,¡± Professor Davies said.?

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com