What universities want students to know this year

An education expert discusses clearing, student fees rising, and UK and international student applications.

Transcript

00:00For those students that might not get the results that they thought they were going

00:04to, check your UCAS site, check your UCAS account before you do anything, because your

00:10university may well have already accepted you, and in fact we're expecting more students

00:15to get accepted at their first choice university this year.

00:19If that hasn't quite worked out as you expected, then clearing is the perfect opportunity to

00:25pause, think and rethink what you want to be doing with the next three years of your life.

00:31Tuition fees for English and Welsh students are rising to £9,535 this autumn, the first

00:37increase in eight years.

00:40University leaders say this reflects growing financial pressure across the sector, but it

00:44also means families are thinking carefully about whether higher education is affordable.

00:48In terms of the value to the universities of the increase in the fees, I mean yes of course

00:54that's hugely valuable.

00:57Prior to that increase this year, which is relatively modest, university fees have been

01:03the same for about ten years, and obviously we still want to make sure that we're providing

01:07the very best facilities, the very best teaching staff, the very best experience for our students.

01:14Applicants shouldn't be concerned about that because that's something that won't hit them

01:18at the point at which they're a student.

01:20Dr Jo Saxton, the head of UCAS, said universities are keen to enrol UK students amid uncertainty

01:26surrounding international student numbers.

01:29Despite this, Tracey Lancaster confirms that UK and international students aren't competing

01:34for the same places, and Leeds Beckett has actually seen a slight increase in international

01:38applications.

01:40That means more stability for domestic students, while clearing still offers opportunities for

01:44those who need them.

01:45There are places for both, and certainly, at Leeds Beckett, that's certainly the case

01:50with us. An international student is not taking the place of a UK student. There is

01:55room for everybody. So, as I say, it's about making sure that you've checked out not only

02:01your first and second choice universities, but also maybe you've got a bit of a list in

02:05the background of places that you might be more interested in having a look at.

02:09Clearing remains an important option for students who don't meet their predicted grades. It means

02:14many applicants still have a strong chance of securing a place.

02:17All of this actually puts the applicant in the driving seat. It's your future, and it's your investment.

02:25So make sure that you're making the best possible choice for yourself.