2009 has seen the highest number of A level entries for England, Wales and Northern Ireland being awarded A grades.  Also, in Scotland A passes in the higher examinations had also improved upon last years results.

This is a fantastic achievement and is a demonstration of the level of commitment to study that these individuals have made and indeed the excellent teaching that they have received. Something that as a nation we should incredibly proud of.

This level of success has meant that this year, the surge in applications for university places has risen dramatically meaning that the Government has recently announced partial funding for 10,000 extra university places for subjects such as the sciences, engineering, technology and maths. However, university places are limited and this in itself creates it’s own issues.

Students who have not received the grades that they were looking to achieve can go through the ‘clearing’ system to find an alternative university place, however, the demand for places could mean that fewer students will fine a course via this route this year.

Its estimated that there are approximately 22,000 places available via clearing this year which is half the number which was allocated in 2008.  UCAS, which is the university admissions service has stated that this year there are 135,114 students eligible for clearing.  At this time last year there were 109,000.  This means that there are approximately six applicants for every place via clearing so many will be disappointed.

A recent article in the Guardian Newspaper reported that Up to 40,000 potential students could miss out on going to university this year unless the government funds more places urgently.

The university body which currently represents ex-polytechnics, Million+, has stated that funding for additional university places is desperately required and has suggested that ministers obtain a loan from the European Investment Bank.

Million+ has estimated that this year there will be 643,000 applicants for full time university places, which is an increase of 53,000 on 2008 figures (This figure however does not include the thousands of additional applications for part time students).

Ministers cut 5,000 planned additional university places this year in a bid to reduce the costs of providing financial support for those students. Therefore there is now a situation developing whereby there are more students wishing to enrol on courses than there are places available.  This, combined with many older students wishing to ride out the recession by completing a degree course could lead to an estimated shortfall of 40,000 places according to a statement by Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of Million+.