{
  "id": 786484,
  "title": "Are the UK's top universities really 'hoovering up' students?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/are-the-uks-top-universities-really-hoovering-up-students",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-13T16:43:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC News",
    "slug": "bbc-news",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cddjp8gq0njo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A record number of UK 18-year-olds received university offers this year, with the biggest surge seen among the most selective, higher-tariff universities, according to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas). Nick Hillman, chief executive of the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi), noted that the top institutions were \"hoovering up all the crumbs\" when it came to top students, even if they hadn't met the grades they were offered. The Russell Group confirmed there was always some flexibility in admissions decisions, but it emphasized that this should not be misconstrued as a lowering of standards.\n\nAcceptances at higher-tariff universities increased by 5.5% year-on-year, compared to 3.8% for medium-tariff universities and a 1.7% drop at lower-tariff institutions. The rise at the more selective universities comes amid financial struggles across the sector, with questions raised about the value of degrees and the cost of attending university.\n\nHillman argued that universities, like any other institution, desire to be bigger and better the following year. If they can recruit good students, why wouldn't they? Universities taking on more students could help maintain popular courses like modern languages, preventing staff redundancies. However, the number of international students, who pay higher fees, has significantly declined, prompting universities to utilize their resources for UK undergraduates instead.\n\nThe Russell Group emphasized that while there was always some flexibility in admissions, it would not admit students who could not succeed on the course. The university of Manchester's president, Duncan Ivison, stated that they wouldn't be lowering standards and wanted students to flourish. For A-level student Stephen, from Carmel College in St Helens, winning a place at New College, Oxford, despite missing the grades, provided a \"miraculous\" moment on results day. Another student, Niamh, who initially didn't meet the required grades for Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, was also accepted through Clearing and expressed happiness in her choice. Universities UK, representing 142 institutions, denied the claim that top universities were simply grabbing more students by lowering grades. They assured that there were checks and balances in place to ensure students were well-equipped to succeed.",
  "summary": "The most selective universities have seen the biggest rise in students accepted onto their courses for 2026.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}