Some 11,180 students were placed on undergraduate courses in the UK through clearing in the first 24 hours after yesterday’s A-level results.
Figures from the university admissions service, Ucas, show it was the highest number for five years.
Students placed through clearing tend to be those who did not get the grades for their favoured courses.
But a dip in university applications has left universities looking to fill more places than usual.
There have been reports of some leading universities offering places through clearing.