Tough competition for sixth-formers as universities try to avoid overcrowding – and next year may be no better
For the first time in years, sixth-formers who don’t get the A-level grades they need in August are unlikely to be able to talk their way into top universities, experts are warning. They say elite institutions are facing unprecedented demand on space and a new era of much tougher competition for places is dawning, with fewer opportunities through clearing.
Many leading universities were forced to take thousands more students than they expected to last year after the government’s U-turn on A-level grades. This year, with grade inflation anticipated again, some top universities have made fewer offers. Experts say that when results come out on 10 August, admissions officers at the most prestigious universities will stick rigidly to offer grades so that resources including libraries, halls of residence and labs are not overwhelmed.
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