In 2024, there has been a noticeable surge in admission rates at higher-tariff universities in the UK for school-leavers. This increase comes as sixth-formers eagerly secure places at the most selective universities, with a substantial rise in enrollment numbers compared to the previous year after receiving their A-level results.
Experts have attributed this trend to several key factors. Firstly, “high tariff” universities, including those within the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive institutions, have allocated more places to UK school-leavers this year. This shift in focus comes after a decrease in the recruitment of international students by these universities. Additionally, many institutions have been able to admit more students due to the graduation of larger undergraduate cohorts during the Covid pandemic, which has freed up additional space for incoming students.
Armed with better-than-expected A-level grades, school-leavers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland have wasted no time in confirming their offers or applying through clearing. According to figures released by the Ucas admissions service, over 100,000 UK 18-year-olds have already accepted places at higher-tariff providers such as Bath or Loughborough universities. This marks a significant 13% increase compared to the previous year and sets a new record outside of the pandemic-affected admissions season of 2021.
As the admissions cycle progresses, it is expected that these numbers will continue to rise. Several Russell Group universities, including Cardiff, York, and University College London, still have vacancies available through clearing, providing additional opportunities for prospective students to secure a place.
Mark Corver, the head of dataHE, an organization that works with universities on admissions, has noted that while the full picture will not be clear until Monday, early indications point towards a robust admissions round. He highlights that a record number of school-leavers have successfully found places through clearing, showcasing a strong interest from UK 18-year-olds in attending more selective universities.
Corver explains, “The absence of a significant drop in A-level grades has undoubtedly played a role in this trend. However, the primary driver at this stage seems to be a renewed interest from the more selective universities in UK 18-year-olds. This may be attributed to the increased capacity resulting from the large graduating cohorts in recent years, as well as a heightened awareness of the financial risks associated with imbalanced intakes of home and international students.”
Following a period of substantial recruitment of international students, particularly in postgraduate programs, some universities have encountered challenges in attracting the same level of international interest this year. As a result, the more prestigious high-tariff providers have seen an uptick in the number of students they are accepting, potentially leaving fewer spots available at other institutions.
While this shift may pose financial challenges for remaining universities, they are hopeful that there will still be enough students to fill their courses and avoid financial difficulties. Corver adds, “The funding situation for UK undergraduates remains challenging, even slightly worse than last year. However, some universities seem to have reconsidered them as the most viable option for this academic year.”
Following the publication of A-level results, high-tariff universities had already accepted 130,000 students onto courses, surpassing the numbers from the previous year and those from 2019 before the onset of the Covid pandemic. Medium-tariff universities, such as Nottingham Trent and Hull, also saw a slight increase in the number of UK students accepted for courses starting in the autumn, while lower-tariff providers accepted slightly fewer students compared to the previous year.
The categorization of universities into high, medium, and low tariffs is based on the average grades achieved by students accepted into their programs. Ucas assigns 56 tariff points for an A* and 32 points for a C. By this point in 2023, lower-tariff universities had accepted 10,000 more students than high-tariff universities.
The rise in A* and A grades awarded in England, reaching record highs outside of the pandemic years, has resulted in more students than ever meeting their expected grades and accepting their confirmed places. Nearly 244,000 students secured places on results day, with high-tariff universities benefiting the most from these acceptances. However, students from Wales and Northern Ireland, where the proportion of top A-level grades decreased compared to the previous year, showed a more restrained response.
As the academic year approaches, it is clear that UK school-leavers are demonstrating a strong interest in attending higher-tariff universities. This surge in admission rates reflects a combination of factors, including the increased availability of places at selective institutions, the financial considerations for universities in balancing home and international student populations, and the reassessment of UK undergraduates as a viable option for recruitment.
With the admissions cycle still ongoing, it will be interesting to see how these trends evolve and whether the momentum towards higher-tariff universities will continue in the coming years. As school-leavers navigate their options and universities adapt to changing demographics, the landscape of higher education in the UK is undoubtedly undergoing a significant transformation.