Students who fail to secure the A-level grades needed for a place at their preferred institution will have “plenty of options” open to them, a university sector chief has said.
Hundreds of thousands of students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive their exam results on Thursday, with many finding out whether they have secured a place at their first choice university.
Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK (UUK), advised students waiting for their grades to have a “firm plan of action in place” to ensure they are prepared for any scenario on A-level results day.
She said: “On results day, if students don’t achieve the grades they need, there are still plenty of options open to them.”
Analysis by the PA news agency suggests more courses are available at top institutions through clearing – which matches applicants to university places yet to be filled – in the day before A-level results day than at the same point last year.
Education experts have predicted that a number of British universities will be competing for school and college leavers on A-level results day to fill their places amid financial pressures.
A decline in the proportion of UK school leavers applying to higher education and a fall in demand from overseas applicants has led to greater competition among institutions this summer, it has been suggested.
Ms Stern said: “Waiting for your results can be daunting, however with a firm plan of action in place you can go into results day prepared for any eventuality.
“Students can have a look at courses that are still available in Ucas clearing and do some research on the universities offering the courses, ensuring that they make an informed decision.
“These are big decisions, and the most important thing is to choose a course that you are genuinely interested in and excited by.”
With less than 24 hours to go until results are released, a PA sample of 130 of the UK’s largest higher education providers showed there were 22,774 courses with vacancies for undergraduate students living in England.
A similar analysis last year, carried out by PA the day before A-level results day, showed there were 22,521 courses with vacancies on the clearing site.
Overall, 17 of the 24 universities in the Russell Group, which represents some of the most prestigious UK institutions, had vacancies on courses for English residents – a total of 3,500 courses between them.
A similar analysis last year, the day before A-level results day, showed 16 of the 24 Russell Group universities had vacancies on courses for English residents – a total of 2,171 courses between them.
Clearing is available to students who do not meet the conditions of their offer on A-level results day, as well as those who did not receive any offers.
Students who have changed their mind about what or where they wish to study, and also those who have applied outside the normal application window, can also use clearing.
Ms Stern added: “For those who do better than they expected, or may not have applied to university at all, clearing can also be an opportunity to think about whether you want to change your mind.”
Earlier this week, Jo Saxton, chief executive of Ucas, suggested that prospective students are increasingly waiting until A-level results day before making a final decision on where to study next.
Dr Saxton said applicants are using clearing to “exert their choice” once they have their exam grades.
The “single largest group” of applicants who used clearing last year was made up of those who decided to decline an offer that they had been holding to choose a different course or institution, she added.
The head of Ucas suggested that universities have recognised this change and are listing courses in clearing to ensure this cohort of students have choices.
Ahead of A-level results day, Dr Saxton told PA: “If you want to go to university this academic year – whether you’re holding a firm offer or whether you want to go into direct clearing – this is going to be a good year for you.
“A good year in terms of lots of choice and universities clearly very keen to have undergraduate students.”
