nxious college students awaiting their A-level outcomes ought to put together a “back-up” plan in case they miss out on a spot at their most well-liked establishment, a college sector chief has mentioned.

Hundreds of hundreds of scholars in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will obtain their examination outcomes on Thursday, with many discovering out whether or not they've their first alternative college.

Vivienne Stern, chief govt of Universities UK (UUK), suggested college students to do some “preparation” forward of A-level outcomes day to make sure they know learn how to use clearing in case they should discover an alternate college place.

She informed the PA news company: “For most students you’re going to get your first or insurance offer, but it’s a good idea to have a back-up plan.”

A rising variety of 18-year-olds within the inhabitants has made the college admissions system “competitive” this yr and this pattern is anticipated to proceed within the years to return, Ms Stern mentioned.

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There’s nonetheless good time to ensure you're very well ready for the chance that when you do not make your first or insurance coverage supply you understand how to to decide based mostly on all of the alternatives that shall be on the market by way of clearing

At some prime universities, the variety of programs listed as accessible on the Ucas clearing website the day earlier than A-level outcomes day has fallen in contrast with the identical level final week, PA evaluation suggests.

Clearing is out there to college students who don't meet the situations of their supply on A-level outcomes day, in addition to those that didn't obtain any presents.

Students who've modified their thoughts about what or the place they want to examine, and in addition those that have utilized exterior the conventional software window, may use the method.

Speaking to PA on Wednesday, Ms Stern mentioned: “For those people who are nervous today and are anxious about what tomorrow might bring, there’s still good time to make sure you’re really well prepared for the possibility that if you don’t make your first or insurance offer you know how to to make a decision based on all the opportunities that will be out there through clearing.”

With lower than 24 hours to go till outcomes are launched, a PA pattern of 130 of the UK’s largest increased training suppliers confirmed there have been 22,521 programs with vacancies for undergraduate college students dwelling in England.

An analogous evaluation final yr, carried out by PA the day earlier than A-level outcomes day, confirmed there have been 22,685 programs with vacancies on the clearing website – which is barely greater than the variety of programs listed on the similar level this yr.

As of Wednesday morning, Edinburgh University, a member of the Russell Group, which represents a few of the most prestigious UK establishments, had only one course listed as accessible in clearing, in contrast with 19 every week in the past.

Meanwhile, King’s College London (KCL) had 5 programs listed, in contrast with 14 on Wednesday final week.

A University of Edinburgh spokesman mentioned: “Entry to the University of Edinburgh is competitive and every year we seek to attract the brightest minds from Scotland, the rest of the UK, and internationally.

“We are committed to fostering a diverse academic community and limited places are open in some areas where we have capacity.”

Overall, 16 of the 24 Russell Group universities had vacancies on programs for English residents – a complete of two,171 programs between them on the day earlier than A-level outcomes day, a slight rise from 2,021 every week in the past.

The University of Liverpool, which had no programs listed on the Ucas clearing website on Wednesday final week, now has 170 listed, which partly explains the rise within the variety of programs accessible throughout the Russell Group.

Durham University, which had no programs listed on the clearing website on Wednesday morning, plans to supply locations to “well-qualified” college students – predominately home college students – by way of clearing on A-level outcomes day.

In England, exams regulator Ofqual has mentioned this yr’s nationwide A-level outcomes shall be decrease than final yr however they're anticipated to be just like these earlier than the pandemic.

It comes after Covid-19 led to a rise in prime A-level grades in 2020 and 2021, with outcomes based mostly on instructor assessments as an alternative of exams.

Ms Stern mentioned: “One of the things that’s happened this year is, because Ofqual has been quite clear about the grading profile, universities actually increased their offer rates, so they made more offers, because they had a greater sense of clarity about how grades were going to be distributed.

“That might mean in some cases they’ve got fewer places going into clearing.”