What do you do if you don’t get into your first-choice university? This【D1】______faces thousands of British students every year.

What do you do if you don’t get into your first-choice university? This dilemma faces thousands of British students every year. Many such candidates turn to Clearing, a service that helps find university places for students at the last moment. If they don’t have the marks to get into their institution of first choice, Clearing tells them about places available at other university, though they might have to read a different subject.
    This year has seen a record number of people applying to university. This, combined with the weak economy, an uncertain job market, and budget cuts at universities, has produced even more of a scramble for places than usual. Some sources say six students have applied for each remaining undergraduate place.
    The British University Admissions Service, UCAS, says up to a quarter of this year’s university applicants—almost 190, 000 people—have not been admitted into a degree course. That’s an increase of over 46, 000 students from last year.
    Faced with these figures, some British students might consider an interesting alternative: studying abroad. The University of Nottingham, for example, is offering places at its campuses in Ning-bo, near Shanghai, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Students at these institutions can earn University of Nottingham degrees in business, accounting, engineering and English. Similarly, the university of Bolton says it has "unlimited" places at its campus in the United Arab Emirates.
    To deal with these problems, the UK’s Higher Education Minister, David Willetts, is encouraging students who haven’t made the grade to consider alternatives to university, such as apprenticeships and studying at home.
    "There are a range of options available," he says. "People can reapply next year, so they should consider spending this year in a way that will add positively to their CVs. Getting practical work experience or other skills will strengthen their chances next year. " Some commentators say, though, that rising university costs, poor long-term job prospects, and a drop in graduate recruitment mean this is the worst time to be a university student in the UK.