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4th September 2024

Clearing 2024 – The Key Shifts and What’s Next

From shifting student behaviours to promising trends...

We reflect on Clearing 2024 through data gathered from sources like DataHE, UCAS, UniCompare.

Clearing 2024 has revealed some intriguing surprises, from shifting student behaviours to promising trends.

The good news? Overall recruitment is up, with an increase in UK applicants, although there has been a slight decrease in international students. Higher-tariff universities are performing exceptionally well, while lower and medium tariff institutions are facing challenges.

A standout trend this year is the record number of Direct to Clearing applications. By Day 7, a significant number of UK 18-year-olds had been placed through Clearing, with Direct to Clearing reaching its highest level since 2020. This indicates that students are making quick, post-results decisions, which we need to capitalise on.

While higher tariff universities have seen positive results in Clearing, mid and low-tariff universities are struggling with lower post-results recruitment. The growth rate for Clearing placements is the second lowest on record, due to increased student switching, faster confirmations, and weaker post-results numbers among older UK students and lower tariff providers. Despite these challenges, there is an opportunity to reassess and refine strategies, especially for Clearing.

On the subject front, STEM disciplines continue to excel, while subjects like Psychology and Biological Sport Sciences are experiencing a decline. Regionally, students are more open than ever to considering universities outside their local area, suggesting that a broader, national recruitment approach could be beneficial.

So, what’s the takeaway? While Clearing hasn’t completely changed the 2024 recruitment outlook, the strong performance of higher tier universities, more students emerging that are Direct to Clearing and students increasingly open to considering universities outside their local areas suggest there’s plenty of room for growth.

By adapting quickly, focusing on these trends, and fine-tuning strategies, we can position our clients to excel and attract today’s students.

 

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