Leading universities are set to drop entry grades for prestigious courses as they battle to recruit students to repair their finances.
A record number of students are expected to get into their first choice of university this year – even if they miss their grades, the head of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) said.
At least 17 out of 24 Russell Group universities accepted grades on a number of courses in previous years that were lower than the entry requirements being advertised this year, The i Paper‘s analysis of Ucas data found.
Experts suggested this trend is set to continue for those getting A-levels results next week, as universities attempt to attract more British students to compensate for the fall in international post-graduate students.
Shorts
Scroll to previous short
Scroll to next short
Why Meta has been fined $567m over child safety
A US judge in New Mexico has ordered Meta to pay another $567m (£421m) for its failure to warn the public about dangers its platforms posed to children. This marks the largest fine against the company over child safety.
What you need to know
A New Mexico court imposed the penalty on Thursday.
The judge directed that the bulk of the money should go to treatment services for children and teens.
The case, which Meta lost in March, has already seen a jury levy $375m (£279m) in fines.
The second phase saw prosecutors ask the judge to require the tech firm to clamp down on child sexual exploitation.
LIFESTYLE
4 min read
What did the ruling say?
Judge Bryan Biedscheid was scathing in his assessment of Meta’s conduct and its impact on young people and society. Social media harms had become a “common, societal burden on and harm to the affected children and their families and schools”, he said.
Meta must pay an additional $567m (£421m) fine, of which $420m (£312m) will be used for treatment services for young people.
Actors including James McAvoy and Julianne Moore, as well as England cricketer Jonny Bairstow, have fallen for the hoax (Photo: Jeff Chiu/AP)
NEWS
3 min read
What will change as a result?
Judge Biedscheid also ordered Meta to make further changes to its platforms.
These include:
Facebook and Instagram must build banners and informational screens that clearly explain protection features and display them regularly to users.
It must also eliminate “like” counts for users under 18, ban push notifications for those users every day between 10pm and 7am each day and introduce a mandatory usage limit for under-18s of 90 cumulative hours per month.
No accounts belonging to users over 18 will be able to message underage users, and a “one strike” policy will be implemented for adults who engage in child sexual exploitation.
He also ordered a ban on sending and receiving nudity by underage accounts.
How has Meta responded?
We disagree with the ruling and will appeal. We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and have been transparent about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors and harmful content. We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online and will continue to defend ourselves against claims that misrepresent the facts.
Famous brands including Facebook and Instagram owner Meta have attempted to offset their carbon emission on the Kenyan project (Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
politics
What Burnham means for inflation, interest rates and living costs, according to experts
Energy prices have soared due to the US-Israel war with Iran (Photo: Getty)
Nearly three weeks into his job as Prime Minister, three economic experts assess what Burnham has done so far, and what it means for the economy and the pound in people’s pockets.
Thomas Pugh – chief economist at tax and consulting firm RSM UK
“Burnham doesn’t have the fiscal space to provide meaningful support for the cost of living in the short term without spooking the bond market.
“[Burnham’s] new policies probably cost around £1.5bn. That sounds significant, but it amounts to roughly 0.1 per cent of annual government spending – too small to alarm bond markets, but not enough to materially change the outlook for households.
“Burnham’s agenda rests on public control of essential services, mass housebuilding, regional devolution and re-industrialisation. Each could improve UK’s long-term growth potential if executed well.”
Exclusive
3 min read
Edward Jones, professor of economics at Bangor University
Caption: Britain’s Prime Minister Andy Burnham speaks to residents, care workers, volunteers and social care stakeholders during a care home visit in London, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool via REUTERS
Photographer: Kirsty Wigglesworth
Provider: via REUTERS
Source: Pool
“Burnham’s economic measures, so far, have been modest.
“They should give disposable income a small lift but are not large enough to impact the UK’s growth rate materially.
Caption: Prime Minister Andy Burnham during a visit to Alstom Transport in Derby, to unveil a change to the education system with the launch of new technical educational routes. The new pathways will provide 14-year-olds with early access to technical skills, work experience and connections with local employers. Picture date: Tuesday July 28, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Temilade Adelaja/PA Wire
Photographer: Temilade Adelaja
Provider: Temilade Adelaja/PA Wire
Source: PA
Stocks continue to tumble, with the Dow Jones opening down over 500 points yesterday, as oil prices rise due to the war in Iran and the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, stating that the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed. (Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
“The main test for Burnham is fiscal credibility…Markets have already shown that they are sensitive to suggestions of a looser fiscal stance.”
Chris Martin, professor of economics at the University of Bath
“There has not been much on the economic front. The plans for devolution sound sensible, but will only really pay off in the long run. The plans for social care seem brave, but again will only kick in over the longer term.
Andy Burnham speaking during a visit to a family centre in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, for the launch of the biggest transfer of power from Westminster in a generation, which will allow English mayors to keep a share of the taxes collected in their area, giving communities greater control over the decisions that shape jobs, transport, housing and public services. July 31, 2026. Annabel Lee-Ellis/Pool via REUTERS
Photographer: Annabel Lee-Ellis
Provider: via REUTERS
Source: Pool
Caption: New Pound coins. Introduced in 2017.
Photographer: John Lamb
Provider: Getty Images
Source: The Image Bank RF
Copyright: JOHN LAMB
“Having promised to not raise the main rates of tax, there is little room for manoeuvre. I had hoped for a striking statement of intent on e.g. the triple lock on pensions. But nothing so far.”
read the full story here
What Burnham means for inflation, interest rates and living costs
Andy Burnham is now nearly three weeks into his job as Prime Minister, but what do economists make of what he’s done so far?
With inflation still above the 2 per cent target level and the Bank of England (BoE) keeping interest rates at the same level yet again last month, many will be wondering when they may start to see financial improvements to their lives.
Caption: BRISTOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 07: Hot air balloons take to the sky on the opening day of Bristol International Balloon Fiesta at Ashton Court Estate, on August 07, 2026 in Bristol, England. Europe’s largest annual hot-air balloon event, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, is a free to attend, three-day event running from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th August featuring scheduled twice-daily mass ascents of over 100 hot air balloons. (Photo by Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)
Photographer: Finnbarr Webster
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2026 Getty Images
news
Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2026 – the story in pictures
The hot air balloon bonanza has taken over the south-west city from Friday to Sunday, producing impressive images against the clear blue sky.
Bristol Balloon Fiesta est. 1979
The free event is held in the rolling hills of the Ashton Court Estate on the outskirts of Bristol.
Spectators flocked to the site on Friday to see the spectacular views with colourful balloons floating across the horizon.
Caption: A balloon pilot checks internal rigging as crews inflate a hot air balloon canopy before take off during the 48th Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, an annual free festival of hot air ballooning, which is the largest event of its kind in Europe. Picture date: Friday August 7, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Ben Birchall/PA Wire
Photographer: Ben Birchall
Provider: Ben Birchall/PA Wire
Source: PA
Caption: BRISTOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 07: A hot air balloon is prepared before take off on the opening day of Bristol International Balloon Fiesta at Ashton Court Estate, on August 07, 2026 in Bristol, England. Europe’s largest annual hot-air balloon event, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, is a free to attend, three-day event running from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th August featuring scheduled twice-daily mass ascents of over 100 hot air balloons. (Photo by Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)
Photographer: Finnbarr Webster
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2026 Getty Images
The mass ascent
Caption: Hot air balloons take to the air in a Mass Ascent at dawn during the Bristol international balloon fiesta, in Bristol, western England on August 7, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: HENRY NICHOLLS
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors
Colourful tradition
The fun balloons come in all shapes and sizes, from vivid green aliens and rotund pandas to classic multicoloured stripes.
Caption: BRISTOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 07: Hot air balloons land on a dried out field on the opening day of Bristol International Balloon Fiesta at Ashton Court Estate, on August 07, 2026 in Bristol, England. Europe’s largest annual hot-air balloon event, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, is a free to attend, three-day event running from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th August featuring scheduled twice-daily mass ascents of over 100 hot air balloons. (Photo by Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)
Photographer: Finnbarr Webster
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2026 Getty Images
Caption: BRISTOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 07: Hot air balloons are prepared on the opening day of Bristol International Balloon Fiesta at Ashton Court Estate, on August 07, 2026 in Bristol, England. Europe’s largest annual hot-air balloon event, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, is a free to attend, three-day event running from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th August featuring scheduled twice-daily mass ascents of over 100 hot air balloons. (Photo by Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)
Photographer: Finnbarr Webster
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2026 Getty Images
On Friday and Saturday evening, the festival will hold night glow events. Dozens of the balloons will rise into the air to hang like glowing lanterns above the city as it gets dark.
More of the best pictures
Caption: Hot air balloons are prepared ahead of a Mass Ascent at dawn during the Bristol international balloon fiesta, in Bristol, western England on August 7, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: HENRY NICHOLLS
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors
Caption: A hot air balloon casts a shadow on the ground as the pilot prepares to land it, following a Mass Ascent, during the Bristol international balloon fiesta, in Bristol, western England on August 7, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: HENRY NICHOLLS
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors
Caption: Artist Emily Powell pictured in a hot air balloon basket, where she is painting live from inside a hot air balloon basket during the 48th Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, an annual free festival of hot air ballooning, which is the largest event of its kind in Europe. Picture date: Friday August 7, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Ben Birchall/PA Wire
Photographer: Ben Birchall
Provider: Ben Birchall/PA Wire
Source: PA
Caption: This is a photo of a woman clutching a pink piggy bank labelled pension. See PA Feature FINANCE Pension Pots. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FINANCE Pension Pots. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Alamy/PA
NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FINANCE Pension Pots
Photographer: Alamy/PA
Provider: Alamy/PA
Source: PA
pensions
HMRC repays £50m to thousands of pension savers – how to see if you’ve overpaid tax
More than 12,500 pensioners had overpaid tax returned to them, amounting to an average payout of £4,000 per person.
What you need to know
In the three months between April and June, HMRC paid out £50.3m in tax rebates. These were for people who had been subject to an emergency tax code on flexible pension withdrawal.
This means their system assumes one withdrawal will be replicated each month for the next year and you are taxed accordingly.
But this is not the case for many pensioners, who may have made a one-off withdrawal. In this case, they were paid back the amount they had been overtaxed.
Money Clinic
2 min read
What to do if you think you have overpaid tax
If you have made a single pension withdrawal, you can check if you have overpaid tax on the HMRC website.
If so, you will need to fill out a claim form – either a P55, P53Z or P50Z.
If you only accessed part of your pension pot, you’ll want to fill out a P55.
People who withdrew their entire pension will fill out a P53Z or P50Z.
Explained
2 min read
How chemo straight after surgery could fight brain cancer
Blasting cancer cells with chemotherapy just minutes after surgery could improve results for brain cancer patients, according to new research from the University of Manchester.
Keenjee Nama, senior research nurse holds an injection of a BioNTech mRNA cancer immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) – known as BNT116 – at the University College London Hospital clinical research facility in central London. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire
What you need to know
Researchers found chemotherapy could be administered as soon as 15 minutes after surgery.
The second window is between 48 and 72 hours after surgery is done.
These are more effective because the blood-brain barrier is disrupted, allowing the drugs work better.
This could revolutionise glioblastoma treatment, as it could target microscopic cancer cells that can often grow back.
NEWS
2 min read
How significant is this?
Typically, patients have had to wait weeks to recover from surgery before they can receive chemo. But these early findings could present a better alternative to stop tumours returning.
Roughly 3,200 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in the UK each year. Fewer than 5 per cent of patients live longer than five years after diagnosis.
Dr Thomas Kisby, who helped lead the study, said: “For the first time, we’ve shown that glioblastoma surgery briefly exposes a vulnerability we can exploit.”
Interview
5 min read
Caption: A stock image of an old woman. // A longevity expert has urged women in their 30s to start “banking their bone” to avoid the painful effects of ageing and remain independent. Leslie Kenny, who co-founded a non-profit organisation called the Oxford Longevity Project designed to educate the public about ageing breakthroughs, has shared what she thinks is her most important piece of advice for women in their 30s: to create a “savings account for their skeleton”. “The biggest mistake I see is people thinking exercise is only about burning calories,” says Leslie, also the CEO of Oxford Healthspan. “In your 30s, you should be building muscle. Photo released 22/07/2026
Photographer: SWNS
Provider: SWNS
Source: SWNS
health
Seven simple ways to slow down ageing
While we might know to check our blood pressure or keep our weight in check, most people don’t think about their bone health until it is too late.
Poor bone health can lead to osteoporosis, which causes them to lose strength and break more easily, sometimes from as little as a cough, a sneeze or even a hug.
Why is bone health important?
Some 3.5 million people in the UK are estimated to have the condition, with half of women and 20 per cent of men over 50 breaking a bone because of it.
“Osteoporosis is one of the biggest threats to older people’s health and independence as our population ages,” says Craig Jones, chief executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
Caption: Female nurse helping an elderly caucasian man to walk on a crutch in a nursing home. Medical professional assisting a senior male to get to the bathroom. Attendant providing therapy to an older adult
Photographer: DMP
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
LIFESTYLE
5 min read
The seven simple ways
1Start younger than you think. Many of the foundations for our future bone health are laid much earlier than most people realise.
2Weight-bearing exercise is one of the simplest ways to maintain strength, mobility and bone health throughout life.
3Know which vitamins you need. Calcium and vitamin D work well together for bone health.
4Get enough sleep. Poor sleep can affect multiple areas of health, including physical resilience, energy levels, muscle recovery and overall well-being.
The seven simple ways
5Practise yoga. A study found that just 12 minutes of daily yoga significantly increased bone density in the spine and hips – the areas most vulnerable to osteoporosis.
6Cut down on alcohol and tobacco. Studies suggest that alcohol use can increase fracture risk by roughly 40-60 per cent and no level of tobacco smoking has been established as safe for bone health.
7Know your risk factors. Some, like ageing, genetics, menopause and family history are beyond our control. Some medications can increase the risk too.
Despite record numbers of UK students applying for undergraduate courses this year, some subjects such as computing, languages and the arts have declined in popularity – indicating they could be at risk if they do not attract enough students, data shows.
Dr Jo Saxton, its chief executive, told The i Paper: “We are likely looking at record acceptances. We think we’ll be waking up on results day with record numbers of school leavers probably celebrating getting their first so-called Ucas ‘firm choice’.”
She said universities had already made 100,000 more offers than last year – around 1.3 million – which indicates they will accept more students.
This year’s UK intake will be paying tuition fees of nearly £10,000 a year – the highest on record. It comes amid growing pressure on the Government to take action on rising student debt for graduates.
Universities said they only accept students they believe can succeed and that there is no slipping of education standards.
Applications plunge for some subjects
Dr Saxton said there would be many cases where applicants who narrowly miss their grades still get into their first-choice of university, particularly if they are from a disadvantaged background.
She said there was a surge in interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Stem), at the expense of subjects such as foreign languages and traditional humanities.
Ucas previously said this suggested students were making “informed choices about their future study and employment prospects”.
Language and studies of particular countries or regions have suffered a 17 per cent plunge in applicants since 2022, while agriculture and food-related studies, education and teaching have had a 15 per cent drop, The i Paper‘s analysis of Ucas data found. Arts and design courses have had an 8 per cent fall.
In the past year, computing had the biggest decrease in applications, at 5 per cent.
Nick Hillman, chief executive of the Higher Education Policy Institute think-tank, said universities, including some in the Russell Group, are likely to accept students with lower grades than advertised due to declining international student numbers caused by tighter immigration controls.
“Students are very well placed if they want to go to a fairly prestigious university because the more prestigious universities have lowered their entry criteria, take more students through clearing, and are just keener to recruit marginal home students than they were in the past,” he said.
Hillman said languages have had a “catastrophic decline” in interest, leaving even the most selective universities struggling to fill places.
Creative disciplines such as music were struggling, and even business and management courses could be more lenient in their admissions criteria because they tend to rely on more international students.
Universities accepting three grades lower than advertised
Sam Tuckett, the associate director at the Education Policy Institute think-tank, also said more students were likely to get their first choice of university because of funding pressures.
Universities blame much of their financial troubles on capped tuition fees for UK students, which were frozen for years and do not fully cover the cost of delivering the places, forcing institutions to rely on higher fees paid by international students to prop up their finances.
Tuckett said more selective universities had increased their offer numbers, which could leave less selective institutions struggling to fill their places, particularly for less popular subjects.
The University of York, a member of the Russell Group, said it requires applicants to its business and management BA course to achieve AAB, but accepted applicants in 2023 to 2025 had BCC, according to Ucas data.
Newcastle University lists the entry requirement for its biology courses as ABB, but routinely accepts BCC.
Among prestigious courses, University College London requires AAA for biochemistry but accepts AAB, with the lowest grades taken at BBB.
The University of Warwick lists A*AA for management, yet its most commonly accepted grade is AAA and the lowest grades are ABB.
King’s College London lists A*AA for its politics course but most commonly accepts AAA and grades as low as BBB.
The other universities accepting lower grades are: Durham University, Cardiff University, Queen Mary University of London, Queen’s University Belfast and the Universities of Exeter, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Southampton, Sheffield, Birmingham and Nottingham.
‘More opportunities for students’
Joanna Burton, associate director of higher education at the Russell Group, said a “healthy student intake” supports the “financial resilience” of institutions and means more opportunities for young people.
“Russell Group universities maintain very high academic standards and remain more selective on average than the rest of the sector,” she said. “Admissions teams always exercise professional judgement when assessing applicants, and there is no evidence of lowering standards. Universities admit students who show they have the potential to succeed and thrive on their chosen course.”
A Universities UK spokesperson said admissions decisions take into account many aspects of a student’s application, not just grades, and institutions will only accept students they believe can succeed.
The University of Manchester referred The i Paper to the Russell Group’s comment.
The Vice Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, Professor Sir Ian Greer, said it was “unfair and unsustainable” that the number of students it can accept from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is capped, while there is no limit on acceptances from the rest of the UK.
The Universities of Sheffield and York declined to comment.
A source at one of the institutes said historical grades do not represent current entry requirements and that they accept lower grades from students from under-represented backgrounds.
The other universities named in this article did not respond to a request for comment.