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Record processing speeds hit the mark for applicants

A record number of students have been accepted into university or college this year, following the fastest period of processing ever seen by UCAS; 419,627 applicants have now had a place confirmed, an increase of 44,523 on the same point last year. In England, 349,892 applicants have been accepted, compared to 313,271 at the same point last year.

Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive at UCAS said: 'As predicted, this year has been exceptional in many ways. We have seen a 12% increase in accepted applicants. Confirmation and Clearing activity this year was always going to be challenging, but, as predicted, it has been quick and competitive so far - 22,599 Clearing acceptances already processed, an increase of 13,336 when compared to the same point last year. But there are still places available for applicants in Clearing. Law, economics and psychology occupy the top three searches on our website, whilst many courses including management studies, business studies and languages are still advertising places.'

Acceptance rates of mature students are at an all time high, with a fifth more applicants aged 21 or over confirmed at university or college than last year.

Anthony says: 'For the past three years, we have seen a steady increase in the number of applications from students aged 21 or over. This year has seen a dramatic jump in the numbers who have been accepted at this stage in the process.'

A new feature this year is Adjustment. Each year some applicants pass their exams with better results than expected - exceeding the conditions of their firm choice. This allows the applicant to use a five day window to look for an alternative place.

Anthony explains: 'Adjustment was introduced to give applicants another option. Nothing beats the research put in by the applicant before they apply to an institution, and for many Adjustment won't be the right option; but by using the five day period wisely, some applicants can see what else is available. Nearly 400 students have successfully used Adjustment to obtain new places so far this year, evidence that for these students it has proved very valuable.'



Table 1 - Applicant statistics as of 00:05 Wednesday 26 August 2009

 

2009

2008

Applicants accepted

    

- having unconditional or confirmed
  conditional offers

396,631

365,841

- having found a place in Clearing

22,599

9,263

- having been placed using Adjustment

397

0

Total number of accepted applicants

419,627

375,104

Applicants with a non-Clearing outcome pending
- decision from institution or applicant reply

50,778

55,695

Applicants currently eligible for Clearing
- no offers, conditions not met, applied very
  late

135,800

119,447

Applicants withdrawn from scheme

7,699

7,240

Total number of applicants

613,904

557,486

Days from publication of GCE results

6

6

Comparison date

26/08/09

20/08/08

Number of institutions within UCAS membership receiving applications

304

306


Table 2 - Acceptances from applicants by age group and gender

YearMale FemaleTotal
20 years and under 2009151,844182,630334,474
2008135,348168,246 303,594
% change12.2% 8.5%10.2%
21 to 24 years 200921,63823,17944,817
200818,05419,698 37,752
% change19.9% 17.7%18.7%
25 years and over 200914,86825,46840,336
200812,20421,554 33,758
% change21.8% 18.2%19.5%
Total 2009188,350231,277 419,627
2008165,606 209,498375,104
% change13.7% 10.4%11.9%


Table 3 - Acceptances by area of domicile and country of accepting institution

Area of Permanent Residence Country of institution Total
EnglandWales ScotlandNorthern Ireland
England 2009302,4958,9844,625 224316,328
2008270,5127,601 4,163216282,492
% change11.8% 18.2%11.1%3.7%12.0%
Wales 20095,30612,196129 1217,643
20084,96610,363 106915,444
% change6.8% 17.7%21.7%33.3%14.2%
Scotland 20091,5604324,895 1626,514
20081,53162 22,2791723,889
% change1.9% -30.6%11.7%-5.9%11.0%
Northern Ireland 20092,9491071,051 7,98312,090
20082,94298 1,0447,78011,864
% change0.2% 9.2%0.7%2.6%1.9%
Rep. of Ireland 20091,239212797460 2,708
20081,087168 6923762,323
% change14.0% 26.2%15.2%22.3%16.6%
Other EU 200914,0777483,307 1518,147
200812,084512 2,6721615,284
% change16.5% 46.1%23.8%-6.3%18.7%
Non EU 200922,2669242,931 7626,197
200820,149707 2,9034923,808
% change10.5% 30.7%1.0%55.1%10.0%
Total 2009349,89223,214 37,7358,786419,627
2008313,271 19,51133,8598,463 375,104
% change11.7% 19.0%11.4%3.8% 11.9%


Table 4 - Acceptances by age and UK country


 Country of residence
England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Total
20 years and under 2009 254,780 14,049 20,623 10,465 299,917
2008 232,126 12,522 19,008 10,306 273,962
% change 9.8% 12.2% 8.5% 1.5% 9.5%
21 to 24 years 2009 29,589 1,760 2,969 1,020 35,338
2008 24,453 1,461 2,474 943 29,331
% change 21.0% 20.5% 20.0% 8.2% 20.5%
25 years and over 2009 31,959 1,834 2,922 605 37,320
2008 25,913 1,461 2,407 615 30,396
% change 23.3% 25.5% 21.4% -1.6% 22.8%
Total 2009 316,328 17,643 26,514 12,090 372,575
2008 282,492 15,444 23,889 11,864 333,689
% change 12.0% 14.2% 11.0% 1.9% 11.7%


Table 5 - Acceptances by subject and course type (degree, foundation degree or other)

Joint Academic Coding System (JACS 2) Subject Line Degree 2009Percent change Found. degree 2009Percent change Other 2009Percent change
M1 - Law by Area15,620 7.5%29
18
W2 - Design studies14,727 10.6%1,42014.3%279
C8 - Psychology13,984 8.3%31
19
Q3 - English studies9,966 8.9%14
13
G4 - Computer Science9,404 18.1%67820.9%447
N2 - Management studies9,215 2.2%224
51118.3%
N1 - Business studies8,905 11.8%442
349
NN - Combinations within Business & Admin Studies 8,81620.8%295
175
C6 - Sports Science8,441 9.7%81334.6%323
V1 - History by Period8,266 8.6%1
9
Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with arts/humanities 7,98113.3%59939.6%68
A1 - Pre-clinical Medicine 7,7280.3%
Y Combs of languages with arts/humanities7,450 10.1%

16
B7 - Nursing7,301 23.5%242
13,13920.4%
X1 - Training Teachers6,642 5.3%185
27
G1 - Mathematics6,595 16.1%



L1 - Economics6,589 10.1%



N8 - Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism and Transport 6,28419.2%89824.2%505 11.5%
B9 - Others in Subjects allied to Medicine 5,99418.7%258
725 39.7%
W4 - Drama5,908 8.0%56822.9%345
W6 - Cinematics and Photography 5,85716.6%91037.9%151
L5 - Social Work5,849 15.1%69450.9%1,4208.1%
Y Combs of science/engineering with arts/humanities/languages 5,71214.4%1,12948.7%120
X3 - Academic studies in Education 5,22214.0%57127.2%34
Y Combs of science/engineering with social studies/bus/law 5,2162.6%339
83
N4 - Accounting5,195 14.3%44
26
H3 - Mechanical Engineering 5,12622.6%250
70
L2 - Politics4,884 16.8%

24
P3 - Media studies4,591 13.4%286
45
C1 - Biology4,406 10.2%7
15
Z Combs of 3 subjects, or other general courses 4,18013.4%2
36
L3 - Sociology4,170 10.1%11
77
W1 - Fine Art4,135 6.3%179
53
W3 - Music4,043 9.5%493
98
B2 - Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy 4,02313.7%42
2
K1 - Architecture3,961 8.3%34
12
H2 - Civil Engineering3,923 13.7%61
108
H6 - Electronic and Electrical Engineering 3,83711.3%41
156
F1 - Chemistry3,690 4.1%28
8
Y Combs of arts/humanities 3,55911.5%145
21
F3 - Physics3,432 12.9%12


F8 - Physical Geographical Sciences 3,3698.5%16
13
Y Combs of phys/math science with social studies/bus/law 3,3577.0%92
6
N5 - Marketing3,341 14.3%87
36
B1 - Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology 3,1109.7%

15
WW - Combinations within Creative Arts and Design 2,99114.6%427
56
K2 - Building2,987 0.9%251
349
Y Combs of soc studies/law with business2,959 4.4%23
2
H1 - General Engineering 2,83017.1%19
42
Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences 2,74220.8%216
11
L7 - Human and Social Geography 2,6891.9%
LL - Combinations within Social Studies 2,57910.0%68
50
Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with languages 2,542-1.1%

2
P5 - Journalism2,495 21.9%110
19
G5 - Information Systems 2,48315.6%275
123
M9 - Others in Law2,350 20.6%40
64
C7 - Molecular Biology, Biophysics & Biochem 2,0984.0%7
17
Y Combs of phys/math science with arts/humanities/languages 1,98510.5%128
73
Y Combs of soc studies/law 1,9145.3%76
9
GG - Combinations within Mathematical & Computer Sci 1,82824.7%68
H4 - Aerospace Engineering 1,81031.8%173
6
RR - Combinations within European Langs,Lit and related 1,7556.2%
H8 - Chemical, Process and Energy Engineering 1,72118.0%

4
B8 - Medical Technology1,673 22.5%25


F4 - Forensic and Archaeological Science1,633 17.8%87
43
J9 - Others in Technology 1,57329.4%263
42
V5 - Philosophy1,543 16.1%



Y Combs of languages1,504 -4.9%



F6 - Geology1,465 13.5%

5
C3 - Zoology1,314 17.8%61
2
VV - Combinations within Hist & Philosophical studies 1,2963.3%9
V3 - History by Topic1,281 4.6%9
7
Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences with phys/math sciences 1,27415.1%45
13
Y Combs of sciences with engineering/technology 1,2745.4%56
38
G6 - Software Engineering 1,24412.2%87
44
F7 - Science of Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments 1,184-4.7%64
36
A2 - Pre-clinical Dentistry 1,1783.2%
V6 - Theology and Religious studies 1,1531.0%14
11
W5 - Dance1,080 15.3%74
52
N3 - Finance1,040 -5.1%1
3
B4 - Nutrition1,012 8.7%

6
D3 - Animal Science1,004 21.0%61213.80%57
C9 - Others in Biological Sciences 97047.9%37
3
M2 - Law by Topic909 2.5%76
6
Q8 - Classical studies901 3.4%



PP - Combinations within Mass Comms & Documentation 892-10.6%22
5
B3 - Complementary Medicine 890-9.2%178
19
D1 - Pre-clinical Veterinary Medicine 875-7.3%
B6 - Aural and Oral Sciences 8422.1%
K4 - Planning (Urban, Rural and Regional)799 -10.0%12
32
R1 - French studies761 7.0%



R9 - Others in European Langs, Lit and related 760-7.8%
B5 - Ophthalmics736 9.9%36


L4 - Social Policy731 9.4%304
63
P9 - Others in Mass Comms & Documentation724 0.4%12


W8 - Imaginative Writing704 38.3%9
6
Y Combs of phys/math sciences 6980.9%

26
D4 - Agriculture690 17.7%62642.00%156
L6 - Anthropology651 3.3%



QQ - Combinations within Linguistics, Classics & related 6056.5%
H7 - Production and Manufacturing Engineering 574-3.2%3
5
FF - Combinations within Physical Sciences563 14.7%



HH - Combinations within Engineering 56025.0%48
10
N9 - Others in Business & Admin Studies 54723.8%3
L9 - Others in Social Studies 51414.5%29
18
Q1 - Linguistics509 -18.9%4


N6 - Human Resource Management 500-5.1%

6
V4 - Archaeology485
22


T7 - American studies484 -4.7%



CC - Combinations within Biological Sciences 467
P2 - Publicity studies463


2
W7 - Crafts451
 119
17
L0 - Social Studies: any area of study 446


1
W9 - Others in Creative Arts and Design 445
153
1
C4 - Genetics379



R4 - Spanish studies374



C5 - Microbiology340



F9 - Others in Physical Sciences333




MM - Combinations within Law 324
22
2
Y Combs of engineering/technology317




T9 - Others in non-European Langs & related313 -52.0%



XX - Combinations within Education 285
158


R2 - German studies278



R8 - European studies260



D6 - Food and Beverage studies 250
116
10
J4 - Polymers and Textiles 247
4


T2 - Japanese studies209



H5 - Naval Architecture195
5


J5 - Materials Technology not otherwise spec 179
8


BB - Combinations within Subjects allied to Medicine 173
2
13
K3 - Landscape Design172
38
13
Y Combs of engin/tech/building studies 170
9


G3 - Statistics158



KK - Combinations within Architecture, Build & Plan 152
21


T1 - Chinese studies146



F5 - Astronomy143



P1 - Information Services143


2
Q2 - Comparative Literary studies138




V9 - Others in Hist & Philosophical studies 133
Q5 - Celtic studies132


6
J6 - Maritime Technology129
5
1
G0 - Mathematical & Comp Sci: any area128




J7 - Biotechnology124



H0 - Engineering: any area of study114




T6 - Modern Middle-Eastern studies103




R0 - European Langs, Lit & related: any area 98
R7 - Russian and East European studies95




TT - Combinations within non-European Langs & related 87
V2 - History by Area83



W0 - Creative Arts & Design: any area83




P4 - Publishing82
21


R3 - Italian studies72



F0 - Physical Sciences: any area of study 59
DD - Combinations within Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects 58
7


G7 - Artificial Intelligence 55
3


X9 - Others in Education52
142


Q9 - Others in Linguistics, Classics & related 51
X2 - Research and Study Skills in Education 45
D5 - Forestry44
 90
2
G2 - Operational Research41



D9 - Others in Vet Sci, Ag & related subjects 39
J2 - Metallurgy34



G9 - Others in Mathematical & Computer Sci 32
T3 - South Asian studies32



J1 - Minerals Technology31



T5 - African studies31



D7 - Agricultural Sciences28


21
C2 - Botany17


A9 - Others in Medicine and Dentistry 16


22
JJ - Combinations within Technology15




Q4 - Ancient Language studies14




R6 - Scandinavian studies14



N0 - Business & Admin studies: any area12




C0 - Biological Sciences: any area of study 11
T4 - Other Asian studies11



N7 - Office Skills10
5


Q6 - Latin studies10



K0 - Architecture, Build & Plan: any area 7
K9 - Others in Architecture, Build & Plan 5
F2 - Materials Science4



H9 - Others in Engineering3
7


J0 - Technologies: any area of study3




R5 - Portuguese studies3



Q7 - Classical Greek studies1




Grand Total380,562 10.8%17,81429.7%21,251 18.9%

Foundation year courses are accounted for as Degree. 'Other' includes HND, HNC, Certificates of HE, Diplomas of HE (including those in social work, midwifery and nursing) and some postgraduate courses in social work.

Percentage change is not shown if both the number of 2009 choices AND the number of 2008 choices is less than 500.



Table 6 - Acceptances from applicants with a non-UK area of permanent residence by country (countries having more than 600 acceptances)

Country2009 2008Percent change
China4,4833,878 15.6%
Ireland2,7082,323 16.6%
France2,4712,043 20.9%
Hong Kong2,362 2,13210.8%
Cyprus2,3571,873 25.8%
Germany2,1481,862 15.4%
Malaysia2,115 1,68325.7%
India1,5331,429 7.3%
Greece1,3001,230 5.7%
Nigeria1,2421,436 -13.5%
Singapore1,186951 24.7%
Bulgaria1,153733 57.3%
United States of America 1,11897614.5%
Poland1,0691,230 -13.1%
Pakistan9431,152 -18.1%
Norway892702 27.1%
Canada868726 19.6%
Romania800474 68.8%
Lithuania790609 29.7%
Sweden761690 10.3%
Italy752556 35.3%
Spain714585 22.1%
Total of All countries (incl. non-UK EU countries) 47,05241,41513.6%

For those applicants still looking for a place in Clearing, UCAS recommends the following:

  • Don't panic.
  • Seek advice - talk through your options with teachers, parents or our Customer Service Team on 0871 468 0468.
  • Do your research - use the Clearing vacancy service on ucas.com - remember there are 10,000 additional places in science, technology, engineering, maths and related subjects.
  • Call the universities and colleges - you must do this first before referring yourself to a course through Track.
  • Speak to an expert - if you are unsure about your next steps, speak to a specialist careers adviser at the Exam Results Helpline (0808 100 8000).

Stats Breakdown

UCAS is a charity and is the world's leading shared admissions service for higher education. We manage applications for full-time undergraduate courses, together with applications through GTTR (Graduate Teacher Training Registry), CUKAS (Conservatoires UK Admissions Service) and UKPASS (UK Postgraduate Application and Statistical Service).

Since its inception in 1993, UCAS has processed around 30 million applications and placed over 5 million students on higher education courses.

Services include:

  • An informative website (www.ucas.com) enabling students and parents to access a wealth of information designed to help their application to higher education run smoothly.
  • A state-of-the-art contact centre (0871 468 0 468) providing a point of contact for students, schools and higher education institutions.
  • An online application system. A simple, straightforward tracking service enabling students and schools advisors to access up-to-date information about their applications at the click of a button.
  • Over 50 higher education events each year providing 250,000 students with face-to-face advice on the UCAS process. Internationally, we participated in events in over 12 countries and also provided training and professional development throughout Europe and beyond.

Media contacts

Charlotte Knowles, Senior Corporate Communications Executive
Darren Barker, Corporate Communications Officer
James Durant, Corporate Communications Officer
tel: 01242 544987 or 01242 545723
email: communications@ucas.ac.uk
Out of hours: 07768 740461

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