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A-level results: top universities expected to stick rigidly to offer grades

Clearing and Applications Advisor, Universities Forum Helper

An article in today's Guardian discusses how top unis are likely to stick to offers, how fewer offers have been made and how the situation is expected to get worse in 2022 (so don't opt for a gap year):

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jul/31/a-level-results-top-universities-expected-to-stick-to-rigid-entry-grades

Reply 1

Clearing and Applications Advisor

Mark Corver just likes the sound of his own voice. “Offer rates at high tariff universities are as low as in 2013” - ie the first year there was no cap on student numbers and universities offered to almost everyone. Offer rates only increased after that because of declining demographic demand.

There’s always some subjects at some universities that are oversubscribed. Which subjects and which universities varies every year- sometimes quite dramatically (I see Bath is mentioned for having a big increase - but Bath has also had a few years of big decreases in applications so it sounds like their numbers have just rebounded back). It’s always a good idea for applicants to think about what they might be willing to compromise on if they don’t get the grades (different course, different university, foundation years, gap year and retakes/reapply).
And yes some universities that took in massively overtarget in 2020 will be cutting back slightly for a year or two - but not every university did that. Plus London universities have all had their London weighting grant removed for 2021 so had a 10% cut in funding. Add on brexit reducing EU demand and covid mismanagement and quarantine cutting international demand and quite a lot of universities are facing a big funding gap that can only be filled by taking more students. The situation this year is different to every year before - but that’s true EVERY year. Subjects and universities move in and out of fashion.