Record numbers miss out on university

A record 140,000 students have been left without a university place this year, figures showed today.

More than 630,000 people applied to degree courses, fuelled by a 10 per cent surge in mature students as workers turn to study in the recession. But ministers capped the number of extra places available, meaning many candidates were turned away. Admissions service Ucas said 139,520 applicants were left with no offers by 14 October. Virginia Isaac, acting chief executive of Ucas, said: "This year has been unprecedented in many respects."

Ucas said more students than ever had been given places this year. More than 47,000 found courses through the annual clearing process.