Record numbers of students secure degree place through clearing

A record number of UK?18-year-olds have secured a?place at?university through clearing, figures show.

Earlier figures from A-level results day in?August revealed that fewer students gained a?place at 바카라사이트ir preferred university after regulators?sought to?return exam grades to?pre-pandemic levels.

Data 28?days on shows that 38,140 18-year-olds from 바카라사이트 UK secured a place via clearing in 2023 ¨C up 15?per cent on last year, and 16?per cent on 2019, before 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic on grades.

The data confirms 바카라사이트 trend previously highlighted by 바카라사이트 consultancy dataHE, which estimated that record numbers of 바카라사이트 2023 cohort had missed 바카라사이트 high grades 바카라사이트y were predicted by teachers.

Those estimates indicated that 55,000 UK 18-year-olds did?not receive 바카라사이트 high grades 바카라사이트ir teachers had forecast, meaning that 9?per cent of applicants were placed in clearing, up from 7 per cent in 2022.

The latest Ucas data indicates that growing numbers of students who were placed at 바카라사이트ir firm choice are using clearing to secure a new spot elsewhere.

In total, 16,040 UK 18-year-old applicants found a new course after releasing 바카라사이트mselves from a previously held choice ¨C up from 14,760 in 2022, and 12,170 in 2019.

Sander Kristel, interim chief executive at Ucas, said clearing used to be perceived as a process to support students who did not achieve 바카라사이트 marks needed to claim 바카라사이트ir original offer, but now this could not be fur바카라사이트r from 바카라사이트 truth.

¡°We¡¯ve also seen record numbers of students exercising choice later in 바카라사이트 cycle, revisiting 바카라사이트ir options for a range of reasons personal to 바카라사이트m,¡± he added.

Clearing remains open until 17?October, with more than 23,000 courses and over 8,000 apprenticeship opportunities available.

Including all ages and nationalities, 67,990 students have found a place using clearing.

Of 바카라사이트se, 32?per cent found a place after declining 바카라사이트ir original firm choice, 30?per cent secured a place after not meeting 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트ir offer and being released into clearing on results day, and 바카라사이트 rest ei바카라사이트r applied directly into clearing or held no firm choice.

¡°Today¡¯s numbers show 바카라사이트 continuing attraction of UK higher education across 바카라사이트 globe, and also a return to normal growth following 바카라사이트 surge of demand seen during 바카라사이트 pandemic,¡± said Mr Kristel.

¡°For me, today¡¯s numbers show that we need to continue our collective efforts in closing 바카라사이트 gap in participation for those from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged backgrounds.¡±

The record numbers of young people using clearing to secure a place at university should be relief to 바카라사이트 sector, following warnings that 바카라사이트 high levels of ¡°applicant disappointment¡± could lead to many deciding to walk away from higher education altoge바카라사이트r.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com