28% jump in students winning university places through clearing

Updated

The number of UK students to get a place at university through clearing has soared by more than a quarter.

Just over 9,000 students have so far been accepted on a course through the clearing system - a rise of 28% on 2014.

The figures were revealed by the university admissions service Ucas, 24 hours after students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland received their A-level results.

A total of 426,070 students have so far been accepted on a degree course. This is 4% up on 2014.

Some 370,000 have been accepted on to their first choice of course, while 34,300 have been placed on their second choice.

Meanwhile a total of 16,660 students have been placed in the last 24 hours, the highest number since 2011.

This year is the first time a cap on places in England has been lifted, allowing universities to recruit as many students as they want to take.

The latest figures also show that 6% of places have gone to students from other countries in the European Union, up 11% on 2014. A total of 7% of places have gone to those from outside the EU, an increase of 5%.

Almost 50,000 students have been placed on courses for business and administrative studies - the highest number for any subject group.

Here are the top five most popular types of course so far:

1. Business and administrative studies: 49,530 (up 7% on 2014)

2. Creative arts and design: 46,410 (up 3%)

3. Biological sciences: 44,230 (up 11%)

4. Subjects allied to medicine: 41,640 (no change)

5. Social studies: 37,230 (up 12%)

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