University admissions in 2014

UCAS figures show that 512,400 people secured places in 2014, up nearly 17,000. The number of UK students rose 3% to 447,500. However, there were big variations, especially in terms of gender and area. In Bristol South only 11% of 18yr old men go on to university, compared to over 50% of female school leavers in some other areas. UCAS say that the gender gap is the equivalent of 32,000 ‘missing’ male students. Overall, however, the picture is one of more applications, more offers and more accepted places.

The figures also show the growing competition between universities to attract students. Universities made more offers than ever before, 1.8 million, with most students with high predicted grades getting four or five offers. Students without A or A* grades were more likely this year to have got into a ‘higher tariff’ university. For students with BBB, 35% got places into a top-tier university, compared with 32% last year and 17% in 2011. For students with BBC grades, 15% got places at higher tariff universities, compared with 6% in 2011. For applicants with DDE grades, 12% got into ‘medium tariff’ university and 58% found a place at a ‘lower tariff’ university. Across all types of university, 85% of 18 year old applicants from England were accepted for a place somewhere.  [ source: GTAssociates ]