Is there anybody out there? How about landing in Sheffield?

As part of Sheffield University’s Go Higher campaign a poster was carried up 37 kilometres above the earth’s surface on a balloon assisted spacecraft.

The craft also carried the names of more than 2,000 Sheffield University students, prospective students, alumni and academics.

The campaign is part of an increasing trend of top universities looking to the UCAS clearing system to help it recruit students.

New rules mean that students who achieve better than expected results can “upgrade” to a better university or course.

Universities are also allowed to recruit an unlimited number of students who achieve at least an A and two Bs or better at A-level. However they have had the numbers they are allowed to recruit who achieve less than this cut back.

Gavin Douglas, head of student recruitment, admissions and international relations at Sheffield University, said: “We have launched hundreds of thousands of people into the academic, professional, political and artistic stratosphere over the years and this campaign is a direct appeal to students who have set their sights higher.”

The University, has also issued a list of achievements of its students and academics based around the Go Higher theme. These include the careers of a Red Arrows pilot, the project architect on the Shard, several Nobel prizewinners, an astronaut, Olympic medal winners, a cabinet minister and a world-class soprano who were amongst the high fliers being celebrated by the university.