THE University of Manchester filled all its courses less than 36 hours
after the publication of A-level results.
It is one of the first universities in the country to confirm that it
has no more places available for British undergraduates.
More people applied to Manchester than anywhere else in the country.
The vast majority of the university's 6,500 undergraduate places were
filled on Thursday. About 30 courses in five subjects areas were
entered into the UCAS clearing system - which is designed to match
suitable candidates with vacant university places - and these have
also been filled.
In the 36 hours after the publication of A level results on Thursday,
staff at the university took thousands of calls from desperate
students inquiring about a place.
By the close on Friday, the university's director of admissions and
recruitment, Delyth Chambers, confirmed to the M.E.N. that the
university was full.
Quality
She said: "The places we did have, have gone very quickly. It seems
the quality of applicants coming through clearing has been of a
suitable level for us to take.There were about 30 different courses in
about five subject areas that went into clearing.
She added: We have had thousands of telephone calls. The people who
take these calls are specially trained and they know to expect some
upset people and inevitably this is the case. This is a stressful time
for us as well as them and we do not take it lightly."
This year, the University of Manchester was formed by the merger of
Manchester University and UMIST. It received more applications than
any other university in the country.
It is widely believed that the pressure for places is increasingly
intense this year because of changes to student finance, due to be
introduced in 2006. Many students who would have considered taking a
gap year are now anxious to find a place before top-up fees are
increased.
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news/education/s/170/170686_university_full_in_only_36_hours.html
