Clearing 2024 (day 1)
David Kernohan is Deputy Editor of Wonkhe
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The data visualisations in this piece have been updated to reflect the position as of JCQ+5. The text remains as originally published.
We’ve become so used to the declinist narrative about UK universities that you may find the following fact shocking:
More UK domiciled 18 year olds hold a university place now (one day after JCQ results day in 2024) than at any comparable point in history. There are more 18 year olds from the UK scheduled (at this point) to start university this cycle (253,990) than the bumper covid year that was 2021 (251,480).
Far from the much reported turning away from higher study among young people, it seems the deal is being sealed earlier in the cycle. Some 10,080 main scheme UK applicants found a place in the last 24 hours through Clearing. Just 100 more on aggregate have taken the extra day to confirm their firm offer.
I say “on aggregate” because we have to build in the use of self-release. We don’t get direct data on this with this statistical release (we, arguably, should) but we can see it at the margins – for instance 10 less students have been placed at their insurance choice compared to yesterday.
For those with wider concerns about the financial sustainability of universities the recruitment of international students (who pay significantly higher fees in most cases) will be the ones to watch. Many international students do not apply through UCAS, and in a world of international agents the timings and constrains of the UCAS cycle are not as important. We should also recall the scramble for postgraduate students – again something that does not generally happen through UCAS.
There are currently a little over 145,000 applicants free to be placed in clearing, and a further 69,000 holding an offer they have yet to confirm. This represents just under a third of all applicants – there are many decisions yet to be made – but compared to the last two years Clearing looks incredibly competitive. If you are (or know) an applicant, the opportunities are out there. If you work in admissions, you are in for a busy weekend.