Russell Group universities still have available student places

A quarter of universities in the UK's Russell Group still have vacancies, as the new tuition fees regime comes in.

The group, which includes many top universities, says changes to the funding system in England have meant students who wanted to go to a good university and had the right grades have not been able to which means that six out of its 24 members have spaces.

Higher Education Minister David Willetts MP says it is likely fewer people will go to university this year.

There is more of a market this year in student places and some Russell Group universities have never previously offered places through Clearing - the system which matches students to vacancies.

Universities in England have been able to expand by taking as many students with top grades (AAB or higher) as they can accommodate or if they are charging fees of less than £7,500, but their "core" number of places have been cut and fewer students than expected got the top grades.

According to the UCAS Clearing website there are vacancies for courses beginning in the next two weeks at at least six out of the Russell Group's 24 universities, including Birmingham, Sheffield and Queen Mary's, University of London.

Dr Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group, said: "If universities couldn't recruit enough high-calibre students they risked losing funding but if they recruited too many students with grades ABB or below they risked substantial fines.

"The difficult choices faced by admissions departments this year means students who wanted to attend a leading university and had the right qualifications have not been able to, even though those universities wanted to accept them."

The numbers getting AAB grades or equivalent were lower than expected he said - 80,000 rather than 85,000.

He said: "It looks as if there may have been fewer pupils achieving predicted AAB grades at A-level, but rather more getting top grades in equivalent high-class vocational qualifications, such as BTecs.

According to Ucas, there are more than 26,000 university courses with empty places, compared with 20,000 at this time last year.

News Source : BBC Education & The Independent Education News.