Behind the Numbers: Surprising Stats on University Acceptance Rates in the UK
- Andy Porter
- Mar 5
- 1 min read
Applying to university is a major milestone, and understanding acceptance rates can offer valuable insight into the process. In the UK, these rates vary widely between institutions, offering a fascinating glimpse into the competitiveness of different universities. In this post, we’ll explore some of the most interesting and surprising statistics behind university acceptance rates, shedding light on trends, patterns, and what they might mean for prospective students.
The average acceptance rate across all UK universities is approximately 71.46%.
Prestigious universities often have lower acceptance rates due to high demand. For example:
University of St Andrews: Approximately 8%.
University of Cambridge: Around 11-12%.
University of Oxford: Approximately 13%.
It's important to distinguish between offer rates (percentage of applicants receiving an offer) and acceptance rates (percentage of applicants who accept the offer). For instance, while the University of Manchester has an offer rate of about 51%, the acceptance rate is around 1 in 2 undergraduate applicants.
Some universities have notably high acceptance rates, indicating less competitive entry. For example:
Aberystwyth University: 96.1% offer rate.
Bath Spa University: 36% acceptance rate.
The "Golden Triangle" refers to a group of prestigious universities in the UK, including:
University of Cambridge: Offer rate of 24.4% and acceptance rate of 16.2%.
Imperial College London: Offer rate of 33.1% and acceptance rate of 10.8%.
King's College London: Offer rate of 38.5% and acceptance rate of 17.6%.
London School of Economics (LSE): Offer rate of 20.6% and acceptance rate of 6.8%.
University of Oxford: Offer rate of 19.7% and acceptance rate of 13%.
University College London (UCL): Offer rate of 27.0% and acceptance rate of 7.3%.
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