Record numbers set for university

Universities say they are busier than ever with clearing applicants

A record number of students have won places at universities in the first day after A-level results - the best in the exam's history.

The University and Colleges Admissions Service said 284,451 candidates had been accepted, up from 270,417 last year and 248,091 in 2002.

This follows an A-level pass rate of 96%, an increase of 0.6 points.

Some 2,362 of this year's successful candidates did not apply until after they had heard their results.

'Don't panic'

The rest had conditional offers, given earlier in the year, confirmed.

A further 80,154 applicants are waiting to hear whether they have got a place, while 93,416 students are eligible to enter clearing, where students apply for vacant places following their results.

Hotlines are buzzing at universities across the UK.

Durham University said it had received 1,500 calls within the first few hours of A-level results being published.

Meanwhile, Annette Fitzpatrick, head of admissions at Wolverhampton University, said: "We want to urge students not to panic.

"There is time for them to think about their options and we can talk them through what is available to help them make the right decision about their future."

Ucas is accepting clearing applications until 20 September, although most places are expected to be taken up far earlier.