he variety of college students accepted on to UK diploma programs has fallen this 12 months, Ucas figures present.

A complete of 414,940 candidates (of all ages and domiciles) have gained a spot at college or faculty – down 2.6% on the identical level final 12 months, in keeping with knowledge revealed by the college admissions service.

For 18-year-olds within the UK, 230,600 candidates have been accepted – down 3.1% on final 12 months.

Overall, 19,010 UK 18-year-old candidates have missed the circumstances of their college supply and at the moment are eligible to seek out locations in clearing, in comparison with 15,090 final 12 months and 17,270 in 2019.

Ucas stated 79% of 18-year-old candidates from the UK have gained a spot at their first selection college or faculty, which is down from 81% final 12 months however up from 74% in 2019 – the 12 months earlier than the pandemic.

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Today’s knowledge exhibits that challenges in widening participation to essentially the most deprived college students nonetheless persist

Nearly one in ten (9%)  haven't been positioned at their first or insurance coverage selection and at the moment are in clearing, Ucas stated, in comparison with 7% final 12 months and 12% in 2019.

The variety of 18-year-olds from essentially the most deprived backgrounds within the UK to achieve locations on programs is 25,760 this 12 months, in comparison with 26,440 final 12 months.

The variety of 18-year-olds from essentially the most advantaged backgrounds within the UK to be accepted is 76,780, in comparison with 79,650 in 2022.

The admissions service stated which means that for each deprived scholar, 2.30 advantaged college students progress in comparison with 2.29 final 12 months.

Overall, 51,210 worldwide college students (all ages, all domiciles) have been accepted – down 2.3% on final 12 months. The high three nations with positioned candidates are China, India and Hong Kong.

Clare Marchant, Ucas chief govt, stated: “Firstly, I want to say a huge congratulations to the hundreds of thousands of students up and down the country who are celebrating their results and next steps today.

“I am delighted to see more than 200,000 UK 18-year-olds have secured their first choice, which is testament to their hard work and commitment to progress to higher education in a year that has seen many complex factors at play, such as geopolitics, the economy and job market, and cost of living.

“However, today’s data shows that challenges in widening participation to the most disadvantaged students still persist. This demonstrates that we all need to continue the efforts to ensure the most disadvantaged individuals in society are able to benefit from life-changing opportunities in higher education and training, particularly as the 18-year-old population grows.”

She added: “For anyone who may not have got the results they were hoping for, or for those applicants who want to change their mind, there is plenty of choice in clearing with nearly 29,000 courses and 8,000 apprenticeships currently available.

“We also have a team of advisers hard at work to provide students with expert information, advice and guidance on the phones, social media, and on ucas.com.”