With A-Level results just a week away, we examine Uni Compare’s most recent Clearing Report, offering insights from 41,984 registered Clearing students. This report tracks how students navigate Results Day challenges, affecting subjects, regions, and universities differently.
Student Priorities
Course quality remains the top priority in importance for university choice, but interest in student life and employability is growing. Surprisingly, the cost of living has dropped from 3rd to 5th place year on year.
Impression Versus Interaction Data
Brand competition is critical during the Clearing period. UniCompare’s data shows that it is taking nearly twice as many impressions to generate interactions. Universities will need to increase efforts across social media, PPC, and other media channels with this gap widening.
Subject Trends
Top Subjects and Key Growth Areas
- Computing: Interest up 33% from 2023.
- Physical Sciences: 18% rise in interest recently.
- Subjects Allied to Medicine: Stable with interest up from 13% to 14%.
- Business and Management: Interest increased from 13% in 2023 to 14%.
Declining Subject Areas
- Language and Area Studies: Decline from 3.8% in 2023 to 2.8%.
- Biological and Sport Sciences: Interest dropping from 6% to 4%.
- Education and Teaching: Suffered a 21% year-over-year drop, from 2.3% to 1.7%.
Regional Data
- London: Market share is up Year on Year from 25% to 27%
- Scotland: Interest is increasing with SQA Results Day and the main subject choices continue with Business / Management and Social Sciences. Dentistry and Medicine has increased from 10th to 6th place while Law has decreased from 4th to 7th place.
- Top Regions for Interactions: The data suggests that the South East and London remain top locations for students, with East Midlands pulling through as a preferred location for the first time.
Additionally, IDP Connect’s initial clearing report reveals some similar and slightly different results. This report analyses website data from Whatuni and the Complete University Guide between July 1, 2024, and July 31, 2024. Here are our key takeaways:
- Russell Group are the most researched universities in 2024 with a 17.5% increase in demand.
- Business, Management, and Marketing: Represented the 2nd largest share of subject demand in July 2023 but has declined in July 2024 and has now dropped from 2nd to 4th.
- Computing has increased, now making up 12.3% compared to 8% in 2023 of share of subject researched, becoming the 5th most researched subject area up from 7th last year.
- London’s share of students in Clearing has increased by 6.1%, making it the top region. Meanwhile, South-East England saw a 2.3% drop, the largest decline this year.
- The share of students entering higher grades (120-168) dropped by 4.9% compared to the last campaign, indicating a trend towards lower grades and more opportunities to attract prospective students expecting lower scores.
Uni Compare’s latest Clearing Report highlights changing student priorities and notable trends in subject and regional interests. While some subjects and regions are experiencing growth, others face challenges. IDP Connect’s report also suggests that lower-than-expected grades may be common, indicating the need for a strategy focused on attracting traditional Clearing students. With demand for Computing, Mathematical Sciences, Social Studies, and Media rising, using real-time data to optimise your Clearing strategy is essential.
Despite having the largest population of 18-year-olds, the South East is seeing a decline in share, emphasising the need to use data insights to understand these shifts and refine recruitment targeting.
Universities must proactively and responsively address these recruitment challenges to succeed.
