Increase in students finding courses at last minute
RISING NUMBERS of students are finding last-minute degree places, amid continuing competition between universities to snap up those still searching for a course.
As of yesterday a total of 28,270 students had secured a spot for this autumn through clearing – up just over one per cent on last year, and a rise of around 59 per cent compared with five years ago.
The snapshot does show that the overall numbers of applicants placed has fallen by around one per cent this year, which comes in the wake of a drop in applications for degree courses.
There are indications that students who have not yet secured a place are still in a good position, with a Press Association survey showing there are still thousands of courses potentially with availability – including some at the UK’s top universities.
The survey, based on 148 universities and colleges, gives a total of 25,336 undergraduate courses showing availability for students in England on the Ucas website, down just a couple of thousand courses compared with Thursday, when clearing opened.
Out of the 24 Russell Group universities alone, a group of highly selective institutions that are considered among the best in the country, more than twothirds have at least one course listed on the site, with 3,365 courses listed in total.
The Ucas data also suggests there has never been a better time to enter clearing amid a fall in overall applications and acceptances and fewer students free to enter the annual process.
Clearing is the annual system that matches students without degree places, such as those who failed to meet the entry requirements for their chosen course, with courses that still have availability.
The figures suggest many options are still available to students hoping to start degree courses this autumn with less competition among those still searching for a place.