Students across the UK have found themselves unexpectedly squeezed out of their desired university courses as this year’s bumper crop of A-level grades has not always translated into the places many were hoping for.
With close to a third of the A-levels awarded in England, Wales and Northern Ireland achieving the top A and A* grades this year, universities are taking a tougher stance by rejecting students who narrowly missed their expected grades and who in previous years would still have gained a place.
The stronger competition has tipped record numbers of applicants into clearing, or settling for their second choices, with universities in some cases wanting students to defer for a year.
Cardiff University has asked students on two programmes to defer until 2027, after more than expected achieved their required grades, leaving it with a surplus of qualified applicants for courses such as midwifery.
The university said it had asked “a small number” of applicants to defer, with limits on its intake previously agreed with the Welsh government.
“We understand this will be deeply disappointing for those affected, and our immediate priority is to support these students and ensure they receive clear guidance as they consider their next steps,” a spokesperson for Cardiff said.
“It is important to be clear that Cardiff University has not over-offered places. As with all universities, offers are made based on detailed modelling of applicant behaviour and historical acceptance patterns. This year, an exceptionally high number of applicants met the conditions of their offers and accepted places, resulting in demand exceeding the number of commissioned places available.
“This has been an extremely difficult decision … and we explored every possible option to avoid activating the university’s oversubscription policy for these two courses.”
At least one applicant said she had complained to the Office for Students, telling Wales Online that Cardiff had offered her a £750 bursary to defer or lose her place. The Office for Students does not regulate universities in Wales.
Ucas figures show that this year, 73% of students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were given firm offers after grades were issued, below the 76% with firm offers in 2024 and 2025. A record 23,000 students have already deferred their places this year.
Figures published on Friday show record numbers of students were eligible for clearing, the post-results process to apply for courses with unfilled places.
The proportion of applicants receiving their first-choice course offer was lower this year at 79%, compared with 82% last year, while the proportion placed at their “insurance” choice increased.
The competition for places has increased as a result of selective universities growing less slowly than last year, despite record numbers of applications. While selective universities received almost 10% more applications this year, the universities have only increased offers by 5% compared with 2025.
The swathe of course closures and staff cuts set off by university restructuring has also affected students. Those offered places on geography courses at the University of Exeter’s Cornwall campus near Falmouth have now been told to either change courses or be moved to Exeter’s main campus in Devon, after the course closures were suddenly announced on Thursday.
