Domestic acceptances soar for UK universities while overseas numbers plateau
UK universities have offered places to more 18-year-olds than ever before, UCAS reports.
The data, released Thursday, shows growth in some areas and difficulties in others as schools adapt to post-COVID trends and global shifts.
Young UK students on the rise.
The key finding is the jump in UK 18-year-olds getting places.
Dr Jo Saxton CBE, UCAS Chief Executive, said, “This year more students are going to university, mainly because more UK 18-year-olds applied.”
The numbers back this up. 277,790 UK 18-year-olds got spots on undergraduate courses, up 2.8% from last year's 270,350. This shows that despite COVID and money worries, many young Brits still want to go to university.
Fewer mature and international students
But not all the news is good. Dr Saxton pointed out, "The data shows problems with mature and international acceptances." Mature student acceptances (UK students 21 and over) fell 3.3%, from 66,360 in 2023 to 64,180 this year.
International student numbers also dipped slightly. 61,110 international applicants got places this year, down 0.6% from last year's 61,470. This small drop might be due to global uncertainty and changes in international education patterns.
Clearing and student decisions
Clearing played a big role this year. Dr Saxton noted, "Many applicants used Clearing, with students seemingly drawn by the wide range of options this year, letting them pursue choices they might not have thought about before or thought were out of reach."
The numbers back this up. 68,810 applicants got places through Clearing so far, up 1.2% from 2023 and 4.6% from 2019. This suggests students are using Clearing more strategically to explore different options, not just as a last resort.
More diverse students and university choices
The data shows progress in diversity. More UK 18-year-olds from areas with low university attendance rates applied, up 4.5% from 2023. Similar increases were seen for students on Free School Meals and those from places where few people usually go to university.
As for university choices, top-ranked universities saw a big jump in acceptances, up 7.8% from last year. Mid-ranked schools had a small drop (-0.5%), while lower-ranked ones fell more (-4.4%).
What's next
As this year's admissions wrap up, universities face both opportunities and challenges. More young UK students are great news, but schools need to tackle the drop in mature student numbers and handle the tricky world of international education.
Dr Saxton remains upbeat about university's impact: "I strongly believe university can change lives, and it's good to see it's still a popular choice. Many students are going on to study subjects they're excited about and passionate about as they move towards rewarding careers."
Clearing stays open until October 21, so more students can still find university spots. As things keep changing, the next few years will likely bring more shifts to UK university admissions.
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