This is a decrease of 7,570 people (2%), compared to A level results day last year. This year has seen an increase in the number of applicants who are still holding offers to 100,410, a change of 1,720 (2%), and a decrease in those who are eligible to be placed in Clearing to 129,020, a change of 19,160 (13%), compared to A level results day last year.
A more in-depth view of UK-wide figures is available within our Daily Clearing analysis - overview report.
There are 21,490 placed applicants into nursing courses this year, down 1,330 (6%) on last year. The number of applicants who have applied to at least one nursing course who are available to be placed in Clearing is 18,830, a decrease of 10,230 (35%) since last year. The number of applicants who have applied to at least one nursing course, and are still holding an offer for a nursing course, has increased by 180 (3%), to 7,370. For English-domiciled applicants, the number of acceptances is down by 8%.
A more comprehensive view of acceptances into nursing courses is available across all our nursing specific outputs for this cycle.
Amongst English-domiciled applicants aged 25 and over, 25,520 have been accepted into higher education, a decrease of 2,730 (10%) compared to last year. The number of English 18 year olds placed this year has increased to 171,330, a year-on-year increase of 630, despite a fall in the population. The entry rate for English 18 year olds is 27.5%, a year-on-year increase of 0.4 percentage points – the highest entry rate for English 18 year olds seen on A level results day.
POLAR3 is a classification of small areas across the UK based on how likely young people are to participate in higher education. For 18 year olds living in areas with the lowest entry rates (POLAR3 Q1) 16.5% of the population are placed in higher education, an increase of 0.4 percentage points compared to last year. The entry rate for the most advantaged (POLAR3 Q5) 18 year old English-domiciled applicants is 39.1%, a year-on-year increase of 0.2 percentage points. The ratio between the entry rates of 18 year olds living in these different areas, has fallen to 2.37, down from 2.41 last year.
Amongst Northern Irish-domiciled applicants aged 25 and over, 670 have been accepted into higher education, a decrease of 110 (14%) compared to last year. For Northern Irish-domiciled 18 year olds, the number placed this year has decreased to 6,840, a year-on-year decrease of 120 (2%). The entry rate for Northern Irish 18 year olds is 28.3%, a year-on-year decrease of 0.2 percentage points.
The entry rate for POLAR3 Q1 18 year olds in Northern Ireland is 12.7%, an increase of 0.3 percentage points compared to last year. The entry rate for the most advantaged (POLAR3 Q5) is 38.9%, a year- on-year increase of 0.4 percentage points. The ratio between the entry rates of 18 year olds living in these different areas, has fallen to 3.07, down from 3.10 last year.
There are 1,670 Welsh-domiciled applicants aged 25 or above, a year-on-year increase of 60 (4%). There are 8,820 placed Welsh-domiciled 18 year olds, a decrease of 380 (4%). The entry rate for Welsh-domiciled 18 year olds is 24.8%, a decrease of 0.5 percentage points. This is the second highest level seen on A level results day, behind last year’s rate.
The entry rate for POLAR3 Q1 18 year olds in Wales is 15.2%, a decrease of 0.4 percentage points compared to last year. The entry rate for the most advantaged (POLAR3 Q5) 18 year old Welsh-domiciled applicants is 38.2%, a year-on-year decrease of 0.8 percentage points. The ratio between the entry rates of 18 year olds living in these different areas, has fallen to 2.52, down from 2.56 last year.
As seen on SQA results day, there has been an increase in the number of placed Scottish-domiciled applicants aged 25 or above, compared to last year. This figure is now 5,960, a year-on-year increase of 440 8%. There are 14,270 placed Scottish-domiciled applicants aged 18, a decrease of 100 (1%) compared to last year. The entry rate for Scottish 18 year olds is 24.9%, a year-on-year increase of 0.5 percentage points, the highest level seen on A level results day.
The entry rate for POLAR3 Q1 18 year olds in Scotland is 12.3%, an increase of 1.9 percentage points compared to last year. The entry rate for the most advantaged (POLAR3 Q5) 18 year old Scottish-domiciled applicants is 36.5%, the same rate as last year. The ratio between the entry rates of 18 year olds living in these different areas, has fallen to 2.97, down from 3.52 last year.
The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) is a classification of small areas in Scotland, based on measures of deprivation. This year the SIMD statistics are reported using the newest version (SIMD16), which was released last year.
For Scottish applicants of all ages, there are 4,640 placed from the most deprived areas (SIMD quintile 1), an increase of 480 (12%) from A level results day last year. For those Scottish applicants in the least deprived areas (SIMD quintile 5), 9,380 have been placed – this is a decrease of 130 (1%) compared to this time last year.
A more detailed breakdown of placed applicants by area of domicile, age, POLAR3 and SIMD16 is available within our Daily Clearing analysis: region, age, POLAR3, and SIMD16 publications.
English-domiciled applicants comprise the majority of placed applicants at UK providers, contributing 299,850 of 416,310 total placed applicants. This is a decrease of 7,110 (2%) since last year.
Within English-domiciled applicants, small regional differences are present. However, the picture is fairly consistent across all, with differences in the numbers accepted into higher education ranging from a decrease of 1% in the North East, to a decrease of 4% in the North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber.
More detail on English domiciled applicants can be found within our Daily Clearing analysis: England overview, region, and country reports.
The number of placed Welsh-domiciled applicants this year is 16,110, a decrease of 520 (3%) on last year. The number of Welsh-domiciled applicants who are placed at English or Welsh providers have both decreased by 3%.
More detail on Welsh domiciled applicants can be found within our Daily Clearing analysis: Wales overview, and country reports.
There are 11,520 Northern Irish-domiciled applicants placed at providers within the UK, this is a year-on- year decrease of 480 (4%). The number of Northern Irish-domiciled applicants placed at Northern Irish providers is 7,100, a year-on-year decrease of 350 (5%). The number who are placed at English providers has decreased by 100 (3%).
More detail on Northern Irish-domiciled applicants can be found within our Daily Clearing analysis: Northern Ireland overview, and country reports.
Further to our publications on SQA results day, the number of placed Scottish-domiciled applicants is now 32,390, an increase of 460 (1%) compared to A level results day last year. The number of Scottish- domiciled applicants placed at Scottish providers is 30,930, a year-on-year increase of 530 (2%). The number who are placed at English providers has decreased by 90 (6%), compared to this time last year.
More detail on Scottish domiciled applicants can be found within our Daily Clearing analysis: Scotland overview, and country reports.
This cycle, there are currently 26,090 placed applicants from the EU (excluding UK), this is a year-on- year decrease of 740 (3%).
Acceptances for EU (excluding UK) domiciled applicants have increased by 260 to medium tariff providers to 8,240, a relative increase of 3%. Higher tariff providers have 10,960 placed EU (excluding UK) domiciled applicants, a decrease of 680 (6%) compared to A level results day last year.
More detail on EU domiciled applicants can be found within our Daily Clearing analysis: EU overview, Tariff, and country reports.
There are 30,350 placed applicants domiciled outside of the EU, this is a year-on-year increase of 1,030 (4%). There are year-on-year increases across all three provider tariffs in the numbers of placed non-EU domiciled applicants. The majority, 18,860, of the non-EU domiciled applicants are placed at higher tariff providers, this is a year-on-year increase of 720 (4%).
More detail on non-EU domiciled applicants can be found within our Daily Clearing analysis: non-EU overview, tariff, and country reports.
Across all applicants, there are 145,070 placed at lower tariff providers, a year-on-year decrease of 8,750 (6%). There are 138,690 applicants placed at medium tariff providers, an increase of 1,260 (1%) compared to this time last year. Higher tariff provides have accepted 132,550 applicants, a decrease of 80 from A level results day last year.
Amongst the population of UK 18 year olds, the number of placed applicants to lower tariff institutions is 61,740, a year-on-year decrease of 2,000 (3%) compared to A level results day last year. 67,920 UK 18 year olds are placed at medium tariff providers, an increase of 1,470, 2%, year on year.
A more comprehensive view of sector-wide trends by tariff of provider is available in our Daily Clearing analysis: Tariff report.
There are 178,000 men who have been accepted into higher education today, a year-on-year decrease of 3,750 (2%). This figure is 42.8% of the overall total who are placed today.
There are 238,310 women who have been accepted into higher education today, a year-on-year decrease of 3,830 (2%). This figure is 57.2% of the overall total who are placed today.
Amongst UK 18 year olds the entry rate ratio of women to men who have been placed into higher education for this cycle is 1.39, this is an increase of 0.01 compared to A level results day last year.
A more detailed picture of placed applications by sex is available in our Daily Clearing analysis: sex publication.
Notes to editors
About UCAS
UCAS is a charity and is the UK's shared admissions service for higher education. We manage applications from around 700,000 applicants each year for full-time undergraduate courses at over 380 universities and colleges across the UK.
Our statistical releases are published each day between 17 August – 1 September 2017, providing the key numbers for the current cycle, comparison data over five cycles, and graphical illustrations of key trends including acceptances by country of domicile, UK region, age, sex, subject POLAR3, SIMD, and Tariff group.
The final applicant and acceptance totals for the cycle will be published in December, in our End of Cycle report.
In Scotland there is a substantial section of provision that is not included in UCAS' figures. This is mostly full-time higher education provided in further education colleges which represents around one third of young full-time undergraduate study in Scotland, and this proportion varies by geography and background in Scotland.
Accordingly, the statistics on UCAS acceptances in these data resources reflect only that majority of full-time undergraduate study that uses UCAS Undergraduate.
From the 2015 cycle onwards, applications to postgraduate teacher training programmes in Scotland were included in the UCAS Undergraduate admissions scheme, previously these were recruited through UCAS Teacher Training. In 2015, around 120 courses at providers in Scotland moved into the UCAS Undergraduate scheme, estimated to represent around 2,000 acceptances, mostly aged 21 or over. Comparisons between 2016 and 2014 (or earlier cycles) will be affected by this change.