Universities in Leeds prepare to welcome new students to the city despite COVID with clearing places set to be snapped up

With thousands of A Level students set to collect their grades and results tomorrow (Thursday) after a disruptive end to the term due to the coronavirus lockdown, there is increased uncertainty about results and plans for gap years.

There have also been higher levels of sign-ups from mature students.

Leeds Beckett University said many people are choosing to capitalise on the benefits of higher education in 2020-2021 in light of calculated grades, fluctuating job markets and limited opportunities to travel.

Tracey Lancaster, deputy vice chancellor at Leeds Beckett University said: “With increased uncertainty around A-Level results day, due to calculated grades, there is an expectation that Clearing could be busier than ever this year. Visits to our Clearing web pages are up by 30 per cent on last year, which we believe is because students are especially nervous about receiving calculated grades.

“We have also seen a 38 per cent increase in pre-registration sign-ups from mature students as there has never been a better time to invest in your education. With economic uncertainty, fluctuating job market and limited ability to travel or take a gap year, many people will be capitalising on the opportunities that higher education has to offer.

“UCAS (The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) has also reported the highest number of overall applicants in four years, with a record 40.5 per cent of all UK 18 year olds applying to study at university this year.”

The university will be offering Clearing places across more than 30 courses, from business and management, to social sciences, sport and art. It says it talks to thousands of applicants during Clearing every year and expects the process to be very similar to previous years.

On Tuesday Leeds Beckett held a live virtual event across its website, Instagram and Facebook channels. ‘Get Set for Clearing’ offered students the opportunity to ask any questions or concerns they had around Clearing in 2020.

It was hosted by BBC’s Stephanie Hirst and featured live discussions with Ms Lancaster, Denise Dixon-Smith, Head of Admissions at Leeds Beckett University and Pango Simwaka, Welfare and Community Officer at the Leeds Beckett Students’ Union.

At Leeds Trinity, education bosses expect clearing figures to be similar to previous years and have a wide range of courses available through clearing such as criminology and sociology, English, photography, business and marketing.

Professor Margaret House OBE, Vice-Chancellor at Leeds Trinity University, told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “Based on current data, our intake for September is expected to be similar to last year.”

She added that plans were being put in place to welcome students to Leeds and to help them feel safe, but still have the ‘university experience’, the start of the 2020 term will see a “blended learning approach”.

Prof House added: “We are being flexible in our approach to teaching and learning and this is reflected in the thorough planning and preparation being carried out by colleagues across the University. We want to ensure that students are equipped with the skills and knowledge to successfully complete their studies and have the best possible student experience within the Government guidelines.

“With this in mind, the University has adopted a blended learning approach, and it is our intention to offer all students both time on campus for teaching from September, as well as online delivery.”

The city’s three main higher education providers have revealed to the Yorkshire Evening Post what plans they have been putting in place to welcome students to Leeds despite an uncertain last few months.

Ms Lancaster said: “Not only does this maximise our students’ learning experience, it also ensures that we support our more vulnerable students, including those who may need to self-isolate or shield.

“Students whose courses use laboratories, specialist facilities and equipment will find these accessible, and we have added ‘pop up’ facilities to enable smaller group teaching. While this will be different to the experience of students at the start of last year, we believe there will also be benefits to this new way of working, with smaller study groups offering students more tailored support.”

She added that the 2020/21 content will be taught both on campus in small groups, as well as online so students can still learn despite travel or local lockdown restrictions.

At the University of Leeds a series of activities and events are being arranged with the Leeds University Union as part of an induction programme for new students to “be sure of a warm and friendly welcome”.

It is also delaying the start to some courses to ensure a safe, phased return to campus for students and staff.

Teaching with large numbers of students, such as lectures, will go ahead using digital technology and teaching smaller groups such as seminars, tutorials and practicals, will be delivered face to face on campus where safely possible with a view to more face-to-face teaching by January.