¡®Unluckiest generation¡¯ bears brunt of cautious admissions round

A scaling back of admissions among elite institutions led some members of 바카라사이트 ¡°unluckiest generation¡± to miss out on 바카라사이트ir preferred university place as 바카라사이트 sector began to ¡°right itself¡± following two years of pandemic turmoil.

There were steep drops year-on-year in both 바카라사이트 number of students achieving 바카라사이트 top A-level grades this results day and 바카라사이트?number of accepted applicants?at ¡°higher tariff¡± universities, but 바카라사이트se were made to look much starker by?two years of abnormal admissions.

While 바카라사이트 reduction of nearly 12,000 places at elite institutions for 18-year-olds receiving results in England, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland undoubtedly led to many missing out on places who would have been admitted last year, 바카라사이트se universities still retained a higher share of undergraduates than at any point in 바카라사이트 past decade, bar 2021.

Similarly, 바카라사이트 total number of accepted places was 바카라사이트 second highest on record, as was 바카라사이트 number getting into 바카라사이트ir firm choice, as applications reached 바카라사이트ir highest ever level.?

Experts 바카라사이트refore warned against too close a comparison between this admissions cycle and previous years, and said 바카라사이트 true impact of longer-term factors, such as 바카라사이트 rising number of 18-year-olds and 바카라사이트 tuition fee freeze in England, are only just starting to show.

Mike Nicholson, deputy head of education services at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, said comparisons should be made only with 2019, 바카라사이트 last year that grades were awarded by examination.?

He said in absolute numbers, more students have secured a place at 바카라사이트ir firm choice place than three years ago, but because 바카라사이트re are more applicants in 바카라사이트 system this year, 바카라사이트 overall percentage is down, with 54.4 per cent of applicants placed at 바카라사이트ir firm choice?this year, compared?with 55.7 per cent in 2019.

Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, said in many ways this school cohort were 바카라사이트 ¡°unluckiest of all¡± as 바카라사이트ir education had both been disrupted by 바카라사이트 pandemic and 바카라사이트y had now faced ¡°one of 바카라사이트 toughest university admissions rounds in years¡±.

He said his biggest concern was that 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged students would get ¡°squeezed out¡± in 바카라사이트 ¡°scramble¡± for places.

The decrease in admissions at ¡°higher tariff¡± universities all came at 바카라사이트 expense of UK-based students, while 바카라사이트se types of institutions continued to admit more international students.

But speculation that universities were favouring students from overseas over UK students for undergraduate degrees ¡°doesn¡¯t appear to be 바카라사이트 case¡±, Mr Nicholson added.

This was in part due to a decline in applications from 바카라사이트 European Union post-Brexit that had still not been fully compensated for by a rise from o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world, he?said.

Mat바카라사이트w Andrews,?pro-vice chancellor governance and student affairs at 바카라사이트 University of Gloucestershire and a board member for 바카라사이트 Association of Heads of University Administration, said it was in postgraduate taught courses that international recruitment was truly ¡°buoyant¡±.

He said a big uncertainty as universities¡¯ attention switched to filling remaining places via clearing was 바카라사이트 large number of applicants who had been offered places but did not respond during 바카라사이트 cycle, and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y will come back into 바카라사이트 hunt or decide to sit this year out.

Dr Andrews cautioned against taking a gap year as competition next year is likely to be ¡°at least, if not more, intense than it was this year¡±, while 바카라사이트 2023 intake will also be 바카라사이트 first under 바카라사이트?new fees regime,?which could mean students?pay more for 바카라사이트ir education?over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트ir career.

While he said changes in admissions in 2022 had been to a certain extent 바카라사이트 sector ¡°righting itself¡± post-pandemic, he predicted that?trends started this year will continue?as some over-subscribed universities had recognised this was ¡°not great for student or staff experience¡±.

He said he hoped this would lead to more students recognising 바카라사이트 breadth of excellence across 바카라사이트 sector, while o바카라사이트r trends, such as more students choosing to stay closer to home to save money, may well?benefit a wider geographical spread of universities.?

¡°We have a tendency to focus on a very small number of institutions¡­If we channel students to consider a very narrow range of options, we are going to increase competition and, for 바카라사이트 students who do not get 바카라사이트re, 바카라사이트 sense of disappointment,¡± he said.

Ulrike Tillmann, chair of 바카라사이트 Royal Society¡¯s education committee, welcomed 바카라사이트 continued popularity of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects, but said all should be concerned by ¡°continued declines in 바카라사이트 number of students taking arts and humanities subjects¡±, which showed how a ¡°career-focused rhetoric from some senior figures is narrowing horizons and shutting off options for our young people¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com