FEWER students have been accepted on to degree courses so far this year, early figures show.

In total, 416,310 people have taken up places, down two per cent compared with the same point last year.

The fall comes in the wake of an overall drop in applications to start degree courses at UK universities this autumn.

Despite the drop in acceptances, the number of students gaining university places on A-level day is still the second-highest number recorded, the university admissions service said.

However, in Worcester, more places have become available after the government said it would fund Health Trusts to provide 1,500 additional placements for health professionals, including Nurses and Midwives, with immediate effect.

The funding will allow universities, in partnership with their placement providers, to create a number of additional clinical placements, across a range of health professions, including Nursing and Midwifery.

Professor David Green, Vice Chancellor at the University of Worcester, said: β€œOn the first day of Clearing we were able to offer 50 interviews to prospective students with first rate qualifications who have heard we now have places and hope to be selected.”

Professor Green, who has campaigned for more Nursing and Midwifery places across the country, welcomed the news, which was announced on Wednesday.

He added: "It has been a long time coming; the government officially confirmed 10,000 extra places on January 27 but only committed to funding the extra placements in August.

"Now that we have this welcome news of the extra 1,500 places in England from this September we look forward to having our biggest cohort of new Nursing and Midwifery students starting in September.”