Lower-tariff unis report worst week of clearing intake since Covid

Lower-tariff universities have reportedly recorded their worst first week of clearing intake outside of the pandemic, Times Higher Education has reported.

According to the outlet, it comes as elite institutions have accepted more 18-year-olds on A-level results day than ever before. 

However, according to an analysis of Ucas statistics by dataHE, a consultancy that is part of the Times Higher Education group, elite universities have placed 14,190 students since results day, up by 14.9% against last year, while lower-tariff institutions have accepted 16,650 students in this period, 12.2% below 2023 and the lowest number on record.

It said this means “bad news for much of the sector” and has raised “serious concerns” about financial pressures on all universities.

Higher-tariff universities increased their intakes by a further 8.6% (9,020 UK 18-year-old students) in the week since results day. This was higher than the 7.9% rise last year and is the highest level since 2019.

Meanwhile, lower-tariff providers have increased their intake by 13% (8,840 UK 18-year-old students) in the past seven days. Excluding 2020, when centre-assessed grades were used due to the pandemic, this was their lowest figure for this period in more than 13 years. 

It comes as dataHE estimated the UK placed rate for 18-year-olds this year to be the highest ever figure for this point of this process at 86.8%.

While Matt Lazell, head of product and development at dataHE, said it had not yet been a “disastrous” year for lower-tariff institutions, he noted that the strong uptake means it is “not the strong year it could have been” for these institutions.

Rachel Brooks, professor of higher education at the University of Oxford, told Times Higher Education it was unsurprising higher-tariff universities were increasing their clearing uptake due to “substantial” financial pressures on all UK universities.

She told the outlet: “It shows that all universities are facing substantial financial pressures and that Russell Group universities, like others, recognise the volatility of the international student market.”  

However, she said it raises “serious concerns” about the financial stability of other institutions, many of which play an important role in educating students from less privileged backgrounds.

She added: “Such universities are also less likely to be able to make up for any shortfall in undergraduates by expanding their postgraduate numbers.”