It will be harder than ever to get a place during Clearing this year, experts have warned. Several universities announced their courses were full more than a week before the annual scramble to win last-minute places started. And to be in with a chance of getting a place, students will need top grades.
Dan Clements is studying Social Science at the OU
Given the difficulty of securing a place through Clearing this year, opting for an online course could be an attractive alternative. Grades will still need to be good but there are plenty of different undergraduate courses to choose from and places are far less restricted.
Institutions running the courses – mainly the Open University and the universities of London, Leicester, Hertfordshire, Derby and Essex, as well as private providers including Kaplan Open Learning – will accept applications long after the Clearing frenzy has died down.
The OU and the University of London International Programme have the most extensive range of undergraduate courses on offer. These include vocational degrees in subjects such as Accounting, Business, Laws and Computing but also more academic degrees in English, History, Languages International Relations and Theology. While Hertfordshire awards courses in various aspects of design, delivered online by private institution, the Interactive Design Institute.
The OU has seen an upturn in young people interested in studying online – a quarter of new students is under 25 and more than half work full-time. Start times for courses are fixed, but they usually run three times a year – October, February and May – so people can choose to take a course at a time that suits them. (Registration closes in September for courses starting in October). And students need not wait for A-level results to enrol because the courses are open access.
According to Christina Lloyd, Head of Teaching and Learner Support, record numbers of students are applying for university places because of the higher grades expected for university entry and fierce competition for graduate jobs. “We’re currently seeing how higher education is changing – the three-year full-time degree isn’t the whole story any more, as the true picture of higher education is much more varied,” she says.
“The balance is already shifting as students opt for other models of study such as part-time, and they often make positive choices about managing their own finances by choosing to work while they study and plan their careers.”
Dan Clements, a 19-year-old community policeman and OU student, is studying an Introduction to Social Science with a view to receiving a BSc in Criminology and Psychology. He thinks a degree would be relevant and a big help towards furthering his career.
“Fitting the work around my shifts proved to be a bit difficult to begin with, as when you’ve done a 10pm – 7am shift studying is the last thing you want to do when you get home,” he says. “However, I’ve managed to squeeze everything in so far and my employers have been really supportive – if there’s ever any quiet time (as there often is on a night shift) they don’t mind me pulling out my book and doing some work. They think it’s a great idea, even though you don’t need any formal qualifications to be a police officer. I’m constantly getting praise from the higher-ups for putting in the extra work and showing dedication to my career.”
Kaplan runs courses validated by the University of Essex in Business and Management, Criminal Justice and Financial Services that start monthly. The company recently won a bid for more government-backed student numbers so Brian Zotti, Executive Director of Operations, says new places are “in no danger of running out”.
Zotti says the clearing process can be daunting. Applicants may fail not only to find the kind of programme they want but also commit to huge living costs. That is if they secure a place at all, given the scarcity of places this year.
Zotti stresses the importance of finding out who will accredit the online degree and what level of support is provided. “Our students can take great pride in that they will be able to graduate with both a higher education degree which focuses on practical application as well as a professional qualification,” he explains. “In doing so, these students will be able to continue studying, seek out opportunities to work, and avoid graduating with staggering debt.”
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