Universities in Wales are among those confirming they have increased entry requirements for some courses. A-level leavers applying to start degrees this September face stiffer competition than usual..
An increase in home and overseas applications, the rise in the number of 18-year-olds in the population, and some universities scaling back after expanding during the pandemic have all combined to make a perfect storm for those applying to UK courses.
Thousands more students met their grades offers during the pandemic under teacher-assessed grades and some universities had to expand to let them in or persuade and even pay them to defer. That is having a knock-on effect on those who applied this year. Places through clearing, for those who don't meet the grades for their first-choice courses, are also expected to be more limited.
