The latest figures from Ucas detail how almost one in four school leavers (23%) were offered at least one unconditional offer this year, prompting education leaders to call for an overhaul in the way university applications are handled, The Guardian report.
58,000 students received a guaranteed place at university this year (regardless of their results), a massive rise compared to the 2,500 unconditional offers given out in 2013.
The publication says this is largely due to the introduction of £9,000 a year tuition fees and the lack of an upper number of students allowed to attend a single institution, which has 'given universities the incentive to recruit' more students.
Of course, when you've been offered an unconditional place, a student is far more likely to choose that specific institution as it takes the pressure off exams, and means they are guaranteed entrance onto their chosen course.
However, many are criticising this policy as detrimental to a students' success, as they feel less empowered and motivated to do well, and are calling for university applications to actually be accepted after exam results are received.
Sam Gyimah, the higher education minister, said that unconditional offers seemingly showed universities were more interested in filling courses up than the quality of student, and wants the system to change.
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He commented:
"Along with the Office for Students, I am closely monitoring the number being issued and fully expect the regulator to take appropriate action. The rise in unconditional offers is completely irresponsible to students and universities must start taking a lead by limiting the number they offer."
Sally Hunt of the University and College Union (UCU) added that university admissions needs to be overhauled, and students should be able to apply after receiving their exam results. She offered:
"The proliferation of unconditional offers is detrimental to the interests of students and it is time the UK joined the rest of the world in basing university offers on actual achievements instead on guesswork."
Ucas say unconditional offers are more common for students who already hold relevant qualifications, creative courses that require portfolios or auditions, or for students with mental health issues.
Dusty Baxter-Wright is an award-winning journalist and the Entertainment and Lifestyle Director at Cosmopolitan, having previously worked at Sugarscape. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work covering pop culture, careers, interiors and travel, and oversees the site’s Entertainment and Lifestyle strategy across print, digital and video. As a journalist for the best part of a decade, she has interviewed everyone from Louis Theroux and Channing Tatum to Margot Robbie and Ncuti Gatwa, while she has also spoken on Times Radio and BBC Radio. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram here.
