Students across the UK are facing unexpected challenges in securing places on their chosen university courses, despite a significant increase in top A-level grades this year. Close to a third of A-levels awarded in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland achieved A or A* grades.
Universities are reportedly taking a tougher stance, rejecting students who narrowly missed their expected grades, a situation that might not have occurred in previous years. This increased competition has led to record numbers of applicants entering clearing or accepting their second-choice universities. Some universities are also asking students to defer their places for a year.
Cardiff University, for example, has asked a small number of applicants on two programmes, including midwifery, to defer until 2027. This decision was made after more students than anticipated met their required grades, leading to a surplus of qualified applicants for commissioned places. The university stated that it had not over-offered places, but an exceptionally high number of applicants met their offer conditions.
Ucas figures indicate that 73% of students in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland received firm offers after grades were issued this year, a decrease from 76% in both 2024 and 2025. Additionally, a record 23,000 students have already deferred their places. The proportion of applicants receiving their first-choice course offer was 79% this year, down from 82% last year.
The University of Exeter's Cornwall campus has also informed students offered places on geography courses that they must either change courses or move to the main Exeter campus in Devon, following recent course closures.