The jury is still out on whether “insurance” choices should be retained in UK university admissions long term, despite a surge in applicants enrolling at their back-up option this year, experts have said.
After elite universities became more selective in confirming places, the 2026-27 admissions round saw nearly 11 per cent of 18-year-old students heading to their insurance choice – the highest proportion in recent years.
Earlier this year, the admissions service Ucas floated the idea of moving away from its current system – in which hopeful attendees apply to five universities before nominating a “firm” and an “insurance” choice – but it eventually decided to make no changes.
Admissions teams said insurance choices made numbers management more uncertain, as most applicants who fail to secure a place at their first-choice university opt to use clearing to find an alternative.
Jess Lister, director of education at consultancy Public First, said the high number of students placed in their insurance choices this year was caused by the behaviour of high-tariff institutions.
