Record offers made through Clearing at DMU despite national fall in numbers

A record-breaking number of students have been offered a Clearing place at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) despite a national fall in people applying through the period.

Since the release of A-level results last week, thousands of people have contacted DMU to take the opportunity of securing a place through Clearing.

And despite fierce competition across the university sector, DMU has already made more offers through the period than it did last year, which was itself a record Clearing.

A team of over 200 staff and student volunteers have been manning hundreds of phone lines, with other colleagues responding to enquiries through Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and - for the first time – WhatsApp, through which many offers have already been made.

The university’s success bucks a national trend across the higher education sector.

Figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show that this year 129,000 people had entered clearing, a fall of nearly 13% compared with 2016.

And this drop is on top of a 4% fall in the total number of people applying to study at UK universities.

DMU marketing and communications director Melanie Fowler, who oversees student recruitment, said: “This year has been the most challenging in memory and the sector is the most competitive it has ever been.

“UCAS acceptances last year showed that DMU was one of the fastest-growing and most popular universities in the UK

“So to see these unprecedented levels of demand is incredible and testament to the reputation DMU has among UK universities both at home and overseas.”

The growing appeal of DMU among EU and overseas students has been helped by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard’s #LoveInternational campaign, which has seen him make several visits to key countries to let them know that, despite Brexit, DMU is a truly international university which continues to welcome students from around the globe.

Students are also drawn by DMU’s employability. A total of 96.7% of graduates from summer 2016 are in work or further study after graduating, according to the annual Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DHLE) report. The national average for universities is 94.3%.

And earlier this year the university received the highest possible Gold award from the Teaching Excellence Framework, the first Government-backed league table, putting among the country’s best universities. 

There are still places left to secure through Clearing, with phone lines and social media platforms open through the next few days. Anyone looking for a place can:

• Call 0116 257 7000 and speak to an advisor. 
• Contact us via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat
• Use our WhatsApp service on 07960 086 989.
• Visit www.dmu.ac.uk/clearing for up-to-the-minute details of courses available and the number of points required to secure a place.