A university administrator has advised students to “consider very carefully” before postponing their university applications for the next year since competition is expected to increase.
The interim chief executive of Universities UK stated that despite this year’s battle for university seats being one of the fiercest ever, the trend is expected to continue next year as tens of thousands await their A-level results on Thursday.
On Wednesday, hours before students get their marks, Chris Hale said there is a “huge demand” for university spots. Chris Hale was speaking at a UCAS-hosted Facebook Live event.
I believe attending university this year in 2022 is a fantastic alternative, he said. There are several possibilities and prospects. There are several courses offered across the system.
He said that attending college is “a terrific investment for young people,” since the chances for work are often greater and the pay is higher.
The demand for university spots this year is high, he said. If you’re considering deferring and enrolling in university the following year, speak to your school, your parents, your counsellors, and others who are close to you before making the choice.
“I believe it’s incredibly crucial because, next year, I suppose, there will be an increase in demand for higher education, making it even more competitive. My suggestion would be to consider very seriously about delaying,”
Grades are anticipated to drop from last year, when students were teacher-assessed, and it is anticipated that over 40% of students would utilise the clearing method to secure a spot on a programme.
Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham, stated in a report released over the weekend that 40,000 students may not be able to enrol in their preferred course or university if 80,000 fewer top grades — A* or A — are awarded than in 2021.
Grades should remain higher than they were before to the outbreak.
Jim Dickinson, a writer for the higher education discussion website WonkHE, told The Times that, “Unless they are certain to be in the top three graduate earning deciles,” those who don’t get into their first-choice university would be taking a huge risk by taking a year off instead of finding an alternative in clearing.