A-LEVEL students who failed to achieve grade As can still win places at some of Britain’s top universities.

Several members of the Russell Group of 19 leading universities were advertising clearing places in a range of popular subjects last night, with many requiring no more than three grade Cs for entrance.

Manchester University is still offering places on its history of art course, requiring three grade Cs, while the University of Southampton is seeking two Bs and a C for a place on its English and history course and the University of Birmingham was asking for a B and two Cs for its history, heritage and education course.

Given that this year’s A-level results broke all records, with nearly one in ten A-level students achieving at least three grade As, the availability of such sought-after places may seem surprising, but Roderick Smith, the director of admissions at Birmingham, said it was likely that straight-A students would all gravitate towards the same elite few universities, law and medical schools.

The University of Nottingham said that, if there were any places left on courses, it would drop one of the grades required by one point, so a requirement for an A and two Bs would become three Bs.

Leeds, which is asking for a B and two Cs for its new media course and for three Bs for a place to study classics, said that it regarded these grades as “respectable”.

Despite the availability of places on sources such as these, Leeds, like many other Russell Group members, has fewer places available for clearing this year than last year.

Overall, fewer school-leavers are applying to university through the clearing process than last year, with 3,515 fewer clearing applicants this year.

The drop of 3.4 per cent mirrors the downturn in numbers applying to university before students received their A-level results, after a record number applied last year to beat the introduction of top-up fees this autumn.

Critics, including Sarah Teather, the Liberal Democrat Education spokeswoman, said that the figures showed that the £3,000 fees, payable on graduation, were putting people off going to university.

“It’s extremely sad to think that there are intelligent young people out there who achieved good grades yesterday but won’t be applying to university because of the cost,” she said.

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