‘Direct to clearing’ plays growing role in UK admissions

Rapid growth in the number of students applying directly to degree courses through clearing should be embraced by universities, sector leaders have said.

This year’s post-results day activity has been marked by continued growth in the number of students winning places when applying after the main sector deadlines, with the total standing at 10,700 seven days after the release of exam grades.

This was up by 19 per cent year-on-year and a record for the past decade. It comes as Ucas has flagged that growing numbers of students are declining their firm offers to enter clearing in search of different courses and as more Russell Group institutions offer places through clearing, making it look like a more attractive option to many hopefuls.

Students placed after applying directly to clearing

Source: Ucas. Data correct as of seven days after A-level results day for each year

“People have an increasing confidence that there will be places available and for me that’s the biggest trend…so you can take your time thinking about your options and make your decision later in the cycle,” said Matthew Andrews, chief operating officer at the University of Gloucestershire.

Institutions looking to fill course shortfalls have been actively promoting the option of applying directly to clearing, and Dr Andrews said the shift could be “beneficial for both parties”, giving students greater flexibility and helping universities to welcome more people who might not otherwise have considered taking degrees.

However, it means that universities have to engage with prospective students over a much more concentrated period.

“It does mean we’re entering more of a mixed mode. For some students they will definitely want to get their applications in early…but what we need to do is get geared up for an increasing number of students who want to decide later on,” Dr Andrews said.

“I think that model works provided spaces are available, but the key crunch point comes if spaces aren’t available.”

Gary Davies, deputy vice-chancellor at London Metropolitan University, said the data were another sign that the sector should consider shifting to a post-qualification admissions system, adding that it would be much more efficient.

“Applicant behaviours are changing and I think the sector should embrace it, because they’ll make better choices, because they’ll be making more relevant choices,” he added.

However, former Ucas chief executive Mary Curnock Cook cautioned that while direct to clearing applications were up slightly on 2019 – “the last solid statistical point” prior to the Covid-19 pandemic – they still represented a very small proportion of overall numbers. A week on from results day, a total of 476,060 students had been accepted.

“It’s good to see healthy applications direct to clearing, especially as these often come from mature applicants, which are down again this year – but there’s nothing to see here in terms of the overall pattern of the cycle,” she added.

“Applications direct to clearing are unlikely to significantly change the difficult picture for some universities, particularly in the lower-tariff group.”

Though it still remains a small part of the overall activity, said Mike Nicholson, director of recruitment, admissions and participation at the University of Cambridge, Ucas changes in recent years had increased flexibility and enabled a “mini-PQA operation to develop”.

“The Covid years artificially decreased the number of clearing places that the most selective universities had available as the numbers meeting their offers in 2020 and 2021 in particular were much higher than anticipated,” he added.

“Now there is more availability, students can see the value of waiting until clearing begins to engage with their university applications.”

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com