Record number of disadvantaged pupils get university places

Record numbers of young people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds in the UK have won places to go to university this year, according to the admissions agency Ucas.

More than a fifth of 18-year-olds (20.4%) from areas of the country with the lowest rate of participation in higher education have confirmed places at universities across the country, up from 19.4% last year.

The rise was welcomed by the sector, which has been under pressure to widen access and increase diversity among undergraduates.

The increase means 25,910 students from disadvantaged backgrounds have university places this year – up from 25,220 in 2018 – out of 495,620 students with a confirmed place on a full-time undergraduate course.

The figures, which are based on analysis of university acceptance numbers four weeks after A-level results day, thus taking in last-minute placements via clearing, reveal that 33.8% of all UK 18-year-olds have secured places through Ucas this year.

This marks another record in UK university admissions, with 239,460 acceptances – a 1% increase on last year despite the fact that there are almost 2% fewer 18-year-olds in the UK population as a result of a demographic dip.

The figures reveal that the number of EU students, which has previously been a strong growth area for UK universities, has flattened out in the continuing Brexit uncertainty, with 30,350 confirming places through Ucas this year, similar to last year’s figures.

In contrast, there has been a significant increase in the number of international students from non-EU countries securing places at UK universities this year. Ucas says a record 40,720 international students from outside the EU have been accepted on courses this year, a 6% increase on last year. This is due largely to a 30% rise in the number of Chinese students choosing to study in the UK.

According to Ucas, the number of students from mainland China studying in UK higher education has more than doubled in the past decade. This year, however, UK universities are benefitting particularly from tensions between China and the US, which has meant Chinese students are increasingly looking for destinations other than the US for their studies.

The figures show the use of the Ucas clearing system, which matches students without a university place to institutions seeking to fill courses, has grown significantly.

Almost 66,000 students used clearing to secure their place, up almost 10% on figures for this time last year and nearly 16,000 of those were applying for the first time with their results in hand.

This week the education secretary, Gavin Williamson, gave his backing to a review of university admissions, including a fresh look at whether school leavers should only apply for places after receiving their A-level results.

Clare Marchant, the Ucas chief executive, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many students from diverse backgrounds getting the life-changing opportunity to study at our internationally renowned universities and colleges.

“More people using clearing shows the increasing flexibility of the different routes students can choose to enter higher education.”