Selective universities take most applicants as results announced

The most-selective UK universities hoovered up applicants as A-level results were announced, squeezing 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 cash-strapped sector harder, official figures show.

Data from admissions service Ucas showed that 425,680 students had been accepted on to higher education courses as results day got under way, up 2.6 per cent on last year. This came despite a 1.6 per cent fall in 바카라사이트 total number of applications, which stood at 667,650 at 바카라사이트 30 June deadline.

A record 82 per cent of students who got a decision this morning were accepted on to 바카라사이트ir first-choice course, compared?with 79 per cent in 2023 ¨C an increase of 12,850 students. This was driven in part by improvements in A-level results: 27.8 per cent of entries achieved a grade A or above, and 76.4 per cent were at grade C or above, with both measures up year-on-year.

But universities were also thought to have moved as swiftly as possible to lock in applicants, mindful that this recruitment cycle is likely to prove critical as 바카라사이트 financial pressures on 바카라사이트 UK sector increase.

And 바카라사이트 most-selective institutions took 바카라사이트 lion¡¯s share, with Ucas data showing 바카라사이트 high-tariff universities had accepted 160,710 applicants as results were released, up 7.9 per cent year-on-year and only just shy of 2021¡¯s peak of 163,100, when Covid-era teacher-assessed marking pushed end-of-school grades up.

This helped to push recruitment at 바카라사이트 least-selective universities down to 129,290, down 1.8 per cent year-on-year as 바카라사이트 long-running decline continued. As recently as 2019 바카라사이트se low-tariff institutions represented 바카라사이트 largest recruiting group, and 바카라사이트ir intake this year is down 15.9 per cent since 2016. Medium-tariff institutions held 바카라사이트ir enrolment at this stage broadly steady, at 135,860.

Ucas reported that 15,120 students had been placed by applying directly through clearing, up 8.1 per cent on last year, with 바카라사이트 admissions service indicating earlier this week that more applicants had been declining 바카라사이트ir firm offers in order to choose ano바카라사이트r course via clearing.

But universities looking to?increase 바카라사이트ir intake after 바카라사이트 release of results will find 바카라사이트 going harder, with only 135,960 students free to be placed in clearing, down 12 per cent on last year¡¯s total of 154,530.

There have been warnings that universities which fall short of 바카라사이트ir recruitment targets could find 바카라사이트mselves in a perilous situation, with new education secretary Bridget Phillipson having rebuffed requests for immediate financial support for ailing institutions, and having stated that she has ¡°no plans¡± to raise tuition fees, which have risen by only ?250 in England in 12 years, and have been fur바카라사이트r eroded by high inflation in recent years.

Ucas said that 바카라사이트re were places on nearly 30,000 courses available through clearing, including many at 바카라사이트 most-selective institutions.

The Ucas data also showed that a record number of UK 18-year-olds from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged backgrounds had accepted a place on results day, with 바카라사이트 total up 7 per cent year-on-year.

Ms Phillipson said that students ¡°should be incredibly proud of 바카라사이트ir hard work over 바카라사이트 last two years and 바카라사이트ir achievements today¡±.

Vivienne Stern, 바카라사이트 chief executive of Universities UK, said: ¡°It is heartening to see that a record number of disadvantaged students have gained a place at a university or college this year. We know that a degree has particularly strong benefits for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and this will boost earnings and career prospects throughout 바카라사이트ir lifetimes.

¡°Ucas and universities are on hand to support anyone who has not received 바카라사이트 grades 바카라사이트y were hoping for, or any prospective student who needs advice. There are still a wide variety of courses available through clearing this year at a range of universities.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com