Sheffield takes 1,800 calls in two hours as students match results to courses

The call centre set up to help students ringing Sheffield University had around 100 operators working.

Christina Edgar, head of student recruitment services at Sheffield University, said the inquiries covered a broad range of queries, including students who had done better than they thought as well as those concerned about missing their predicted grades.

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Dr Edgar said: “It’s changed a lot in the last few years.

“Now that universities aren’t restricted on the places that they have available, we’re able to select students who have potential to do great on our courses. We have a lot more freedom.

“There’s never been a better year to be an applicant.”

She said: “This the busiest we’ve had. Busier than last year even.”

Dr Edgar said: “It’s really about another opportunity to apply and make the right choice. It’s about matching the application with the right course. We’re all looking to do that.”

And she said: “We do get some emotional calls and we try and help as much as we can. It helps if we can be calm and collected and just talk through the results. We’re here to help.”

The university said that within a couple of hours of the lines opening, 360 offers were made to students through the clearing and adjustment helpline.

It said the most popular subjects for early callers were business, economics, law and engineering.