Fall in students accepted into university in UK

UK university acceptances for 18-year-olds have fallen for the first time in five years. 

Uni applications also fell after demand rose during the COVID-19 pandemic, and about 85% of applicants were accepted in both years. 

Fewer applicants got into their first choice of university this year but more qualified for their second choice or got accepted through clearing. 

This year saw top A-level results drop again, as grades in England were brought back to pre-Covid levels. 

The new data from UCAS shows 270,350 UK 18-year-olds were accepted onto a course this year, down from 275,390 in 2022.

It is the first fall since 1018 but the number is still higher than before Covid. 

The drop in the number of acceptances comes after overall applications from UK 18-year-olds declined this year – from 323,290 in 2022 to 318,390 in 2023.

Ucas says there has been a “return to normal growth following the surge of demand seen during the pandemic”.