Rise in number of UK school leavers accepting offersat top universities

School leavers are rushing to take up places at selective universities, with figures showing a substantial increase in the numbers enrolling compared with last year after receiving their A-level results.

- Richard Adams

Experts said that the "high tariff" universities, including those in the Russell Group of research-intensive institutions, were allocating more places to UK school leavers this year, after recruiting fewer international students.

Many universities were also able to take on more students as the supersized undergraduate cohorts admitted during the Covid pandemic graduated this summer, freeing up more space.

Armed with better-than-expected A-level grades issued on Thursday, school-leavers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have taken advantage by quickly confirming offers or applying through clearing.

Figures released by the Ucas admissions service yesterday showed that 100,000 UK 18-year-olds had already accepted places at higher-tariff providers such as Bath University and Loughborough University, a 13% increase on 2023 and a record outside of the pandemic-affected admissions season of 2021.