What is the expected trend for 18-year-olds securing university places this year?

According to the Ucas head, a record number of 18-year-olds are expected to wake up on A-level results day with confirmation of their first-choice university.

How are top UK universities responding to the surge in domestic applicants?

Analysis has found that nearly three-quarters of the UK's top universities have courses available through clearing, as they compete to fill their available seats.

What factors are driving universities to prioritize domestic students this year?

Universities are facing financial pressures due to uncertainty around international student recruitment and years of frozen tuition fees, leading them to focus more on securing three-year undergraduate applicants from the UK.

Home / Education / Universities Compete for Domestic Students as A-Level Applicants Surge

Universities Compete for Domestic Students as A-Level Applicants Surge

6 Aug

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Summary

Record number of 18-year-olds expected to secure university places
Nearly 3 out of 4 top universities have courses available through clearing
Universities facing financial pressures due to uncertainty over international students

Universities Compete for Domestic Students as A-Level Applicants Surge

According to the latest reports, universities in the UK are expected to be highly competitive in offering places to school leavers on A-level results day, even if they have narrowly missed their target grades. The head of the university admissions service, Ucas, predicts that a record number of 18-year-olds will wake up to the news that they have secured their first-choice university.

This comes as analysis has found that nearly three out of four top institutions have courses available through clearing, which matches applicants to university places yet to be filled. With more UK applicants expected, universities are facing a "buyer's market" as they compete to fill their available seats.

The increased competition is driven in part by financial pressures faced by universities due to uncertainty around the recruitment of overseas students, as well as years of frozen tuition fees for domestic students. As a result, universities are now "falling back in love" with their three-year undergraduate applicants, who provide more stability for their teaching, learning, and financial planning.

Experts suggest that this year's cohort of school leavers are "well-placed" to get into their desired universities, even if they have narrowly missed their offer grades. Universities are expected to be "looking very carefully" at near-miss students, as they seek to fill their available capacity.

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