Students could struggle for places as UK top universities run out of space
Some are struggling with accommodation and staff following the pandemic
Students looking for a place in some of the UK's top universities might face tougher competition for places this year due to a lack of accommodation and staff.
They say it's after the pandemic when A-level results were not based on exams, resulting in an increase in high grades.
Professor Sir Steve West, president of Universities UK (UUK), which represents 140 institutions, said some top universities could limit numbers in subject areas as they may not have enough accommodation, specialist teaching spaces or staffing following major expansion during the Covid years.
Sir Steve said: "Universities made offers, students then achieved the offers so there was very little drop-off and therefore research-intensive universities expanded significantly their undergraduate student population.
"Now that's put pressure on their infrastructure, their staffing, and what they're trying to do is just to rebalance that back into some sense of normality."
In England, A-level and GCSE results are set to return to pre-pandemic levels this year after Covid led to an increase in top grades in 2020 and 2021, with results based on teacher assessments instead of exams.
Dr Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group, said: "While competition for places at top universities remains high, there is a welcome increase in the proportion of students holding a firm offer from their preferred university this year.
"This reflects increased confidence in offer making by institutions as school exam grading returns to the pre-pandemic profile.
"It's not unusual for higher tariff universities like those in the Russell Group to have fewer courses than other universities in clearing.
Dr Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group, said: "While competition for places at top universities remains high, there is a welcome increase in the proportion of students holding a firm offer from their preferred university this year.
"This reflects increased confidence in offer making by institutions as school exam grading returns to the pre-pandemic profile.
"It's not unusual for higher tariff universities like those in the Russell Group to have fewer courses than other universities in clearing."
A-level results day is on Thursday 17 August 2023.
In Scotland, SQA results are due to be released to students on Tuesday 8 August 2023.