Clearing 2015: pre-registration

[senua]

Apparently, there will be an interesting clearing season this year due to the effect of two factors working together:

1. The cap on student numbers has gone.
2. Maintenance grants (as opposed to loans) will disappear for 2016 entry, giving an incentive for some to ensure 2015 entry. Some Universities are getting ahead of the game by offering places through clearing for early results (IB and Scottish) and opening pre-registration for A Levels. Article in the Independent.

Interesting article. It could well take the pressure of those who fear they will miss their offer.
Much better would be applying for university after A level grades. Shift the exam results forward or change the academic year for HE to January.

I hadn't twigged that those already in HE would still get a maintenance grant where eligible, so only new students lose out?

Some Universities are getting ahead of the game by offering places through clearing for early results
I think that has always been the case for applicants who already know their grades. Ds1 traded up (not through adjustment) after his gap year a couple of years ago and the uni accepted him before clearing opened - they had advertised on their website - clearing was actually just an administrative formality he had to wait to do once it opened. Bit unfair really for A level students who may lose out to an IB/Scottish/Gap year student who got in there first.