{"id":99488,"date":"2026-08-07T22:28:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:28:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/99488\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:28:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:28:39","slug":"the-17-top-universities-set-to-accept-students-with-lower-grades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/99488\/","title":{"rendered":"The 17 top universities set to accept students with lower grades"},"content":{"rendered":"

Leading universities<\/a> are set to drop entry grades for prestigious courses as they battle to recruit students<\/a> to repair their finances<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A record number of students are expected to get into their first choice of university this year \u2013 even if they miss their grades, the head of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas)<\/a> said.<\/p>\n

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\u2018s analysis of Ucas data found.<\/p>\n

Experts suggested this trend is set to continue for those getting A-levels results<\/a> next week, as universities attempt to attract more British students to compensate for the fall in international post-graduate students<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Why Meta has been fined $567m over child safety<\/p>\n

A US judge in New Mexico has ordered Meta to pay another $567m (\u00a3421m) 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.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

What you need to know<\/p>\n

A New Mexico court\u00a0imposed the penalty on Thursday. <\/p>\n

The judge directed that the bulk of the money should go to treatment services for children and teens.<\/p>\n

The case, which Meta lost in March, has already seen a jury levy $375m (\u00a3279m) in fines.<\/p>\n

The second phase saw prosecutors ask the judge to require the tech firm to clamp down on child sexual exploitation.<\/p>\n

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LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n

4 min read<\/p>\n

What did the ruling say?<\/p>\n

Judge Bryan Biedscheid was scathing in his assessment of Meta\u2019s conduct and its impact on young people and society. Social media harms had\u00a0become a \u201ccommon, societal burden on and harm to the affected children and their families and schools\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n

Meta must pay an additional $567m (\u00a3421m) fine, of which $420m (\u00a3312m) will be used for treatment services for young people.<\/p>\n

\"FILEActors including James McAvoy and Julianne Moore, as well as England cricketer Jonny Bairstow, have fallen for the hoax (Photo: Jeff Chiu\/AP)<\/p>\n

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NEWS<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

What will change as a result?<\/p>\n

Judge Biedscheid also ordered Meta to make further changes to its platforms. <\/p>\n

These include:<\/p>\n

Facebook and Instagram must build banners and informational screens that clearly explain protection features and display them regularly to users.<\/p>\n

It must also eliminate\u00a0\u201clike\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

No accounts belonging to users over 18 will be able to message underage users, and a \u201cone strike\u201d policy will be implemented for adults who engage in child sexual exploitation.<\/p>\n

He also ordered\u00a0a ban on sending and receiving nudity by underage accounts.<\/p>\n

How has Meta responded?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"FamousFamous 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)<\/p>\n

politics<\/p>\n

What Burnham means for inflation, interest rates and living costs, according to experts<\/p>\n

\"UnrecognizableEnergy prices have soared due to the US-Israel war with Iran (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n

Nearly three weeks into his job as Prime Minister,\u00a0three economic experts assess what Burnham has done so far, and what it means for the economy and the pound in people\u2019s pockets.<\/p>\n

Thomas Pugh \u2013 chief economist at tax and consulting firm RSM UK<\/p>\n

\u201cBurnham doesn\u2019t have the fiscal space to provide meaningful support for the cost of living in the short term without spooking the bond market.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Burnham\u2019s] new policies probably cost around \u00a31.5bn. That sounds significant, but it amounts to roughly 0.1 per cent of annual government spending \u2013 too small to alarm bond markets, but not enough to materially change the outlook for households.<\/p>\n

\u201cBurnham\u2019s agenda rests on public control of essential services, mass housebuilding, regional devolution and re-industrialisation. Each could improve UK\u2019s long-term growth potential if executed well.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Exclusive<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

\nEdward Jones, professor of economics at Bangor University\n<\/p>\n

\"Britain'sCaption: Britain\u2019s 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<\/p>\n

\u201cBurnham\u2019s economic measures, so far, have been modest.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey should give disposable income a small lift but are not large enough to impact the UK\u2019s growth rate materially.<\/p>\n

\"PrimeCaption: 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<\/p>\n

\"NEWStocks 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) <\/p>\n

\u201cThe main test for Burnham is fiscal credibility\u2026Markets have already shown that they are sensitive to suggestions of a looser fiscal stance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nChris Martin, professor of economics at the University of Bath\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThere 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.<\/p>\n

\"PrimeAndy 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<\/p>\n

\"NewCaption: New Pound coins. Introduced in 2017.
Photographer: John Lamb
Provider: Getty Images
Source: The Image Bank RF
Copyright: JOHN LAMB<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

read the full story here<\/p>\n

What Burnham means for inflation, interest rates and living costs<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Callum Mason<\/p>\n

Deputy Money Editor<\/p>\n

Andy Burnham is now nearly three weeks into his job as Prime Minister, but what do economists make of what he\u2019s done so far?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"BRISTOL,Caption: BRISTOL, ENGLAND \u2013 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\u2019s 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<\/p>\n

news<\/p>\n

Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2026 \u2013 the story in pictures<\/p>\n

The hot air balloon bonanza has taken over the south-west city from Friday to Sunday, producing impressive images against the clear blue sky.<\/p>\n

Bristol Balloon Fiesta est. 1979<\/p>\n

The free event is held in the rolling hills of the Ashton Court Estate on the outskirts of Bristol.<\/p>\n

Spectators flocked to the site on Friday to see the spectacular views with colourful balloons floating across the horizon.<\/p>\n

\"ACaption: 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<\/p>\n

\"BRISTOL,Caption: BRISTOL, ENGLAND \u2013 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\u2019s 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<\/p>\n

\nThe mass ascent\n<\/p>\n

\"HotCaption: 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<\/p>\n

\nColourful tradition\n<\/p>\n

The fun balloons come in all shapes and sizes, from vivid green aliens and rotund pandas to classic multicoloured stripes. <\/p>\n

\"BRISTOL,Caption: BRISTOL, ENGLAND \u2013 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\u2019s 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<\/p>\n

\"BRISTOL,Caption: BRISTOL, ENGLAND \u2013 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\u2019s 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<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

More of the best pictures<\/p>\n

\"HotCaption: 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<\/p>\n

\"ACaption: 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<\/p>\n

\"ArtistCaption: 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<\/p>\n

\"ThisCaption: 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<\/p>\n

NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FINANCE Pension Pots<\/p>\n

Photographer: Alamy\/PA
Provider: Alamy\/PA
Source: PA<\/p>\n

pensions<\/p>\n

HMRC repays \u00a350m to thousands of pension savers \u2013 how to see if you\u2019ve overpaid tax<\/p>\n

More than 12,500 pensioners had overpaid tax returned to them, amounting to an average payout of \u00a34,000 per person.<\/p>\n

\nWhat you need to know\n<\/p>\n

In the three months between April and June, HMRC paid out \u00a350.3m in tax rebates. These were for people who had been subject to an emergency tax code on flexible pension withdrawal.<\/p>\n

This means their system assumes one withdrawal will be replicated each month for the next year and you are taxed accordingly.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Money Clinic<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

What to do if you think you have overpaid tax<\/p>\n

If you have made a single pension withdrawal, you can check if you have overpaid tax on the HMRC website.<\/p>\n

If so, you will need to fill out a claim form \u2013 either a P55, P53Z or P50Z.<\/p>\n

If you only accessed part of your pension pot, you\u2019ll want to fill out a P55.<\/p>\n

People who withdrew their entire pension will fill out a P53Z or P50Z. <\/p>\n

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Explained<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

How chemo straight after surgery could fight brain cancer<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"EMBARGOEDKeenjee Nama, senior research nurse holds an injection of a BioNTech mRNA cancer immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) \u2013 known as BNT116 \u2013 at the University College London Hospital clinical research facility in central London. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown\/PA Wire<\/p>\n

What you need to know<\/p>\n

Researchers found chemotherapy could be administered as soon as 15 minutes after surgery.<\/p>\n

The second window is between 48 and 72 hours after surgery is done.<\/p>\n

These are more effective because the blood-brain barrier is disrupted, allowing the drugs work better.<\/p>\n

This could revolutionise glioblastoma treatment, as it could target microscopic cancer cells that can often grow back. <\/p>\n

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NEWS<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

How significant is this?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Dr Thomas Kisby, who helped lead the study, said: \u201cFor the first time, we\u2019ve shown that glioblastoma surgery briefly exposes a vulnerability we can exploit.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Interview<\/p>\n

5 min read<\/p>\n

\"ACaption: A stock image of an old woman. \/\/ A longevity expert has urged women in their 30s to start \u201cbanking their bone\u201d 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 \u201csavings account for their skeleton\u201d. \u201cThe biggest mistake I see is people thinking exercise is only about burning calories,\u201d says Leslie, also the CEO of Oxford Healthspan. \u201cIn your 30s, you should be building muscle. Photo released 22\/07\/2026
Photographer: SWNS
Provider: SWNS
Source: SWNS<\/p>\n

health<\/p>\n

Seven simple ways to slow down ageing<\/p>\n

While we might know to check our blood pressure or keep our weight in check, most people don\u2019t think about their bone health until it is too late.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Why is bone health important?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cOsteoporosis is one of the biggest threats to older people\u2019s health and independence as our population ages,\u201d says Craig Jones, chief executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"FemaleCaption: 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<\/p>\n

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LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n

5 min read<\/p>\n

\nThe seven simple ways\n<\/p>\n

1Start younger than you think. Many of the foundations for our future bone health are laid much earlier than most people realise. <\/p>\n

2Weight-bearing exercise is one of the simplest ways to maintain strength, mobility\u00a0and bone health throughout life.\u00a0<\/p>\n

3Know which vitamins you need. Calcium and vitamin D work well together for bone health.<\/p>\n

4Get enough sleep. Poor sleep can affect multiple areas of health, including physical resilience, energy levels, muscle recovery and overall well-being. <\/p>\n

\nThe seven simple ways\n<\/p>\n

5Practise yoga. A study found that just 12 minutes of daily yoga significantly increased bone density in the spine and hips \u2013 the areas most vulnerable to osteoporosis.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

7Know your risk factors. Some, like ageing, genetics, menopause and family history are beyond our control. Some medications can increase the risk too.<\/p>\n

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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 \u2013 indicating they could be at risk if they do not attract enough students, data shows.<\/p>\n

Dr Jo Saxton, its chief executive, told The i Paper: \u201cWe are likely looking at record acceptances. We think we\u2019ll be waking up on results day with record numbers of school leavers probably celebrating getting their first so-called Ucas \u2018firm choice\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said universities had already made 100,000 more offers than last year \u2013 around 1.3 million \u2013 which indicates they will accept more students.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s UK intake will be paying tuition fees<\/a> of nearly \u00a310,000 a year \u2013 the highest on record. It comes amid growing pressure on the Government to take action on rising student debt<\/a> for graduates.<\/p>\n

Universities said they only accept students they believe can succeed and that there is no slipping of education standards.<\/p>\n

Applications plunge for some subjects<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Ucas previously said this suggested students were making \u201cinformed choices about their future study and employment prospects\u201d.<\/p>\n

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\u2018s analysis of Ucas data found. Arts and design courses have had an 8 per cent fall.<\/p>\n

In the past year, computing had the biggest decrease in applications, at 5 per cent.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cStudents 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<\/a>, and are just keener to recruit marginal home students than they were in the past,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Hillman said languages have had a \u201ccatastrophic decline\u201d in interest, leaving even the most selective universities struggling to fill places.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Universities accepting three grades lower than advertised<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Newcastle University lists the entry requirement for its biology courses as ABB, but routinely accepts BCC.<\/p>\n

Among prestigious courses, University College London requires AAA for biochemistry but accepts AAB, with the lowest grades taken at BBB.<\/p>\n

The University of Warwick lists A*AA for management, yet its most commonly accepted grade is AAA and the lowest grades are ABB.<\/p>\n

King\u2019s College London lists A*AA for its politics course but most commonly accepts AAA and grades as low as BBB.<\/p>\n

The other universities accepting lower grades are: Durham University, Cardiff University, Queen Mary University of London, Queen\u2019s University Belfast and the Universities of Exeter, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Southampton, Sheffield, Birmingham and Nottingham. <\/p>\n

\u2018More opportunities for students\u2019<\/p>\n

Joanna Burton, associate director of higher education at the Russell Group, said a \u201chealthy student intake\u201d supports the \u201cfinancial resilience\u201d of institutions and means more opportunities for young people.<\/p>\n

\u201cRussell Group universities maintain very high academic standards and remain more selective on average than the rest of the sector,\u201d she said. \u201cAdmissions 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Universities UK spokesperson said admissions decisions take into account many aspects of a student\u2019s application, not just grades, and institutions will only accept students they believe can succeed.<\/p>\n

The University of Manchester referred The i Paper to the Russell Group\u2019s comment. <\/p>\n

The Vice Chancellor of Queen\u2019s University Belfast, Professor Sir Ian Greer, said it was \u201cunfair and unsustainable\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

The Universities of Sheffield and York declined to comment.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The other universities named in this article did not respond to a request for comment. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Leading universities are set to drop entry grades for prestigious courses as they battle to recruit students to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":99489,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[4],"tags":[42013,28,428,42014,5,6,1470,4126],"class_list":["post-99488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-uk","tag-a-levels","tag-education","tag-students","tag-ucas","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-universities","tag-young-people"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@UnitedKingdom\/117056589449850766","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99488","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99488"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99488\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}