Thousands of Welsh university places offered through Clearing

MORE than 9,000 places at universities in Wales have been offered to A-level students through Clearing within two days, it has been revealed.

But those numbers are slightly down on the same time last year,

Figures from university admissions service UCAS show that by yesterday afternoon, 9,420 applicants had places through Clearing at universities in Wales compared with 9,490 at the same time in 2017.

A Cardiff University spokesperson said their inquiry centre had experienced “a significant volume of calls” and the centre remains open over the weekend.

A spokeswoman for University of Wales Trinity St David said social media had been a major communications channel this year, allowing staff to reach and engage with more prospective students.

Meanwhile across the UK, a record number of students have found degree courses through Clearing, figures show.

More than 15,000 applicants have taken up places at UK universities after going through the process, according to a Press Association analysis of Ucas figures.

This is up 2.4% on last year, and almost three times as many as had found places through Clearing 10 years ago.

The figures come as a snapshot survey showed that tens of thousands of degree courses are still available – including at some of the UK’s top universities – as institutions compete to snap up students yet to find a place.

Press Association analysis indicates that it is a buyers’ market for would-be students, with courses including medicine among those showing availability on the Ucas website, a day after A-level results were published.

A combination of fewer overall university applications and acceptances, fuelled by a drop in the UK’s 18-year-old population, along with fewer students free to enter Clearing suggests that this is a good year for students hoping to find places through the process.

In total, 15,160 students have found places through Clearing, up around 2.4% on 2017.

This is also nearly three times as many as had found places through Clearing in 2009, when 5,220 had been accepted through the process.