Students receive A-Level results

Image credit: The Guardian

Sixth form students across the country are finding out whether they have met their University offers, with record numbers being accepted.

Applicants have been nervously anticipating the outcome of their A-Levels all summer, and are receiving their grades today.

Around 400,000 students have been accepted – a significant increase of approxiamately 10% on 2012 application levels.

This is the first year that universities have had the chance to recruit unlimited numbers of students achieving ABB or above, and Exeter is one of a number of elite universities looking to take advantage by offering incentives to the best students.

The University has confirmed that only it’s Cornwall campus will have places available through clearing, after a dramatic 33% increase in applications. Currently 17 courses have vacancies at Tremough campus, but places in Exeter are also available through adjustment to students with high grades.

But despite nearly 100,000 students being eligible for clearing nationwide (as of midnight yesterday) this application cycle promises to be a bumper year for overall places.

Mary Curnock Cook, UCAS’ chief executive, said: “There are lots of opportunities out there in clearing. Tens of thousands of courses have some vacancies.”

“Take time, don’t make a rushed decision, all the universities are geared up to take telephone calls,” she continued.

There has been a slight drop in A* and A grades, though overall pass marks have continued to increase. A trend towards A-Level students opting for more maths and science courses has been identified, with the uptake of language courses dropping.

Students taking Scottish Highers and the International Baccalaureate have already received their results.

Harrison Jones, Online News Editor

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Exeter bucks trend as elite universities enter clearing

Image credit: Katy Thomson

Half of the UK’s 24 leading institutions have confirmed they will have more places available through clearing and adjustment this year, though the opposite is true for Exeter’s Streatham and St Luke’s campuses.

At elite universities, including Warwick and Nottingham, places will be available on a wider variety of courses than previous years; ranging from Engineering to English. This is thought to be due to reforms of the education system and concerns about a lower volume of applicants following the rise of tuition fees up to £9,000.

Exeter, meanwhile, has received a record number of applications with a 33% increase in comparison to 2012. This follows the University winning the Sunday Times University of the Year award and their introduction into the Russell group in 2012.

Ian Blenkharn, Head of Admissions and Registry Services said: “We do not expect to be in general clearing although we will be in a position to make offers to exceptional candidates via adjustment.”

Becca Humphrey, a third year English student, achieved higher than her AAB offer and gained her place at Exeter through adjustment in 2011. She said: “I hadn’t visited before but we drove down a few days afterwards and everything just clicked for me; the campus, the city. I guess the only drawback about adjustment is that, like clearing, you get last pick over accommodation.”

“I was placed in Rowancroft Court, a 40 minute walk from campus, but like everyone else you have the option to move around after a few weeks to find somewhere closer. Even now I am so glad that I chose Exeter; the English Literature course is challenging, varied and I know it will open up a lot of doors for me.”

The University has disclosed that although the Exeter campuses are not expected to be in general clearing, there have been around 100 additional places from the Higher Education Funding Council for England awarded on the Tremough Campus and they therefore expect to be in general clearing for courses located there. All campuses have places available under adjustment.

Giverny Masso, News Team

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