UCAS reports record number of people placed in their first choice university

Emma Finamore
31 Jan 2017

Applicants placed through UCAS Clearing has also increased to the highest number on record, it is reported.

Placeholder — Record numbers of people are being placed at their first choice of university

UCAS has reported a record number of people placed in their first choice of university, as well as the highest number of those placed through UCAS clearing, it said in its end of year report released last month.

Applicant numbers unchanged in 2016, but higher acceptance rates mean a record 535,200 are placed in higher education through UCAS, up by 0.5%.

There were 718,400 applicants in 2016, almost the same (100 fewer) than in 2015. In the 2016 cycle, 535,200 applicants were placed in higher education through UCAS: there were 2,900 more applicants placed in 2016 than in 2015, an increase of 0.5%.

The increase in acceptances in 2016 is a result of an increase in the proportion of applicants who are placed (the ‘acceptance rate’), according to UCAS. This increased by 0.4% points in 2016 to 74.5%.

Applicants placed at their firm ‘first’ choice continue to increase: the majority of applicants are now placed at the offer they set as their firm choice. In 2016, 386,300 applicants were placed at their firm choice, an increase of 2,200 (0.6%) from 2015, and the highest number ever placed by UCAS through this route.

Applicants placed through Clearing increase to highest number on record in 2016, 64,900 applicants were placed through Clearing. This is an increase of 500 (0.8%) on the 2015 cycle, and the highest number ever placed through this route.

AllAboutSchoolLeavers’ research shows that despite the other options available – all levels of apprenticeships, school leaver programmes and sponsored degrees – young people and their parents still put going to university at the top of their lists when it comes to school leaver career paths.

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