 shows 270,350 UK 18-year-olds were accepted on to a course this year, down from 275,390 in 2022. It is the first fall since 2018, but the number is still higher than before Covid. The drop in the number of acceptances comes after overall applications from UK 18-year-olds declined this year - from 323,290 in 2022 to 318,390 in 2023. Ucas says there has been a "return to normal growth following the surge of demand seen during the pandemic". The fall in demand will not have affected all universities equally, and data for individual universities is not yet available. Image source, Jessie Owers Jessie Owers, 18, has been scouting out societies at Cardiff Metropolitan University this week. She only found out she would be here a month ago, after applying through Ucas's clearing system. "I got my results, and they were far lower than I was expecting, which I know happened to a lot of people," she said. She missed her grades for her first choice and then had to decide whether or not to accept her unconditional offer at her insurance choice. She had a change of heart, and decided to look at other universities in which she had originally been interested. "A big part of why, when it comes to uni, is to have a good rugby team, and I know Cardiff Met has a very, very good rugby team," she said. "Having clearing was an amazing option, because I knew so many people that went for their second choice." More teenagers ap){kind=link}
The number of 18-year-olds in the UK accepted into university has fallen for the first time in five years.
Applications also fell, after demand rose in the pandemic, and about 85% of applicants were accepted in both years.
Fewer students got into their first choice of university this year – but more qualified for their second choice, or accepted places through clearing.
Top A-level results dropped again this year, as grades in England were brought back to pre-Covid levels.
The new data from Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) shows 270,350 UK 18-year-olds were accepted on to a course this year, down from 275,390 in 2022.