Exam crisis: What the admissions organisers say

Oxford: Dame Ruth Deech, principal of St Anne's College, and chairwoman of the university's admissions committee, said it was now "too late" to reconsider students. She added: "It isn't as harsh as it sounds, but there is always another year. There is always time to try again next year."

Warwick: Peter Dunn, a university spokesman, said affected students should take a year off, because the university was full. "We are a campus university and people come here to experience the whole campus experience. They do not want to come if they are forced to live off-campus because it is full."

Cambridge: Geoff Parks, an admissions tutor at Jesus College, said everything would be done to admit affected candidates this autumn. He added: "We would only suggest they take a year off and take their place next year if their results come so late in the term that they would find it difficult to catch up."

Manchester: Jacqueline Henshaw, the university's head of admissions, promised to make room for any student found to have been unfairly rejected. "It's a critical time for a large number of young people and to have their hopes dashed I guess it's unfortunate. We are very sympathetic to those young people."