"The internet has come of age this year. The enormous use of our website throughout clearing shows just how many people are now online," said Tony Higgins, chief executive of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

In the month following the publication of A level results, the UCAS internet site recorded four million page impressions as students looked for university places and information.

Mr Higgins said that there would be a growing trend towards an online applications and admissions service, with forecasts that a large majority of applications would be made through the internet "in the next few years".

An online system for applications - the Electronic Applications System - had been ordered by more than 3,000 schools, said Mr Higgins.