UK universities are set for another “highly competitive” clearing round in August as higher-tariff institutions look to scoop up domestic students in the face of an international student downturn.
With A-level results set to be released on 13 August, institutions are predicting another surge in students attempting to use clearing to secure a spot at their favoured institution.
Broadly, the number of university applications made through clearing has been increasing year-on-year for some time, with a record 77,000 people using the system to look for a university place last year.
Joanna Burton, head of higher education policy at the Russell Group, said: “In a nutshell, the big story this year is we’re looking at continuity rather than disruption.”
Burton said there was still “strong demand” for Russell Group places, and that she expected the group of research-intensive universities to “match talented students with courses” if they had the spots during clearing.
