A-level results day 2015: Record number of students have already been placed into UK universities, Ucas reveals

Almost 410,000 students have already landed a place on their course-of-choice, as young women continue to outnumber men

(Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Record numbers of students across the UK this year have already landed a place at university, Ucas has revealed.

More than 409,000 students know they are accepted to UK universities and colleges as of today – up three per cent against A-level results day last year.

This is the highest number of acceptances recorded on A-level results day, and includes 362,000 students accepted to their first choice – up 3 per cent – Ucas’ figures show.

Ucas chief executive, Mary Curnock Cook, described the outcome as “impressive” – despite the slightly slower growth in the UK application rate.

She said: “More UK 18-year-olds will benefit from higher education in 2015 than in any year previously.”

More students from each of the four UK countries have been placed in higher education than at this point last year, with England and Scotland up three per cent, and Wales and Northern Ireland up by one per cent on last year.

The number of EU students placed has also increased by a number of eleven per cent to 24,090, and international acceptances have risen by six per cent to 29,170.

Young UK students placed from the least advantaged backgrounds has risen by four per cent, with over 27,000 more young women set to start university than young men, widening the gap between the sexes again this year.