Four-fifths of students holding three Ds at A level got a university place in 2018, according to new data from Ucas.

The university admissions body today released more information as part of its 2018 end-of-cycle data, showing that a record proportion of 18-year-olds from England were accepted into university this year.

In England, 33.7 per cent of all 18-year-olds were accepted on to undergraduate courses, while 27.7 per cent were accepted from Scotland - also a record proportion.

Northern Ireland and Wales had entry rates of 35.2 per cent and 29.6 per cent respectively, which are similar to their levels in 2016.

The data shows that the likelihood of students being accepted with lower A-level grades continues to grow, with more than 80 per cent of applicants holding A-level points equivalent to DDD accepted to university. In 2017 fewer than 80 per cent of applicants with this number of points were accepted, and in 2013 fewer than 75 per cent were.

For the 44,150 applicants with grades equivalent to CCC or lower, the acceptance rate to higher education reached 84.3 per cent this year, in comparison with 79.3 per cent in 2013.

University ‘is a buyer’s market’

The proportion of placed applicants missing their predicted grades has also grown over the past five years, from 73.3 per cent in 2013 to 76.8 in 2018.

This has caused the average difference between predicted and achieved grades at A level to rise from 1.9 grades in 2017, to 2.1 grades this year - a significant increase on the average difference in 2013 of 1.6 grades.

The Ucas data provides further evidence that there is a “buyer’s market” for students applying to university.

Institutions are engaged in intense competition for applicants, due to a reduction in the size of the 18-year-old population in the UK, which has fallen each year from 2015 to 2018, and the decision by the government in 2015 to remove the cap on how many students each university can admit.

Data published by Ucas at the end of November showed that more than a third of 18-year-olds applying to university in 2018 received a form of unconditional offer before completing their qualifications.

Clare Marchant, Ucas’ chief executive, said: “Today’s release confirms a key trend over recent years - there’s never been a better time to apply for higher education. Despite the ongoing decline of 18-year-olds in the population, the proportion of young people applying and being accepted is at record levels across large parts of the UK, showing a degree is as attractive as ever.

“However, while an individual student’s potential to succeed on an undergraduate course could’ve been shown during an interview, through a portfolio, or personal statement, universities and colleges must be mindful of accepting applicants with lower grades.

“Students must be appropriately supported during their studies, so they can flourish on their chosen course.”