Universities UK, which represents 142 institutions, said the changes in student acceptance numbers was not necessarily as simple as the top universities grabbing as many students as they could by lowering grades.
Chief executive Vivienne Stern said the grade profiles accepted by different universities were “more or less identical to the pattern in previous years”.
There are numerous reasons why students might be offered places with higher or lower grade requirements than average, she said, such as certain courses being under-subscribed.
While the financial situation of the higher education sector may have brought the issue to the fore, she said there were “checks and balances” in place.
“The important thing is we’ve got a system which regulates universities on outcomes,” she said.
“You can recruit a student, but we’re going to hold you to account. It’s not in the interest to recruit a student who is not well equipped to succeed.”
Hillman, from Hepi, said while universities were likely to be “breathing a sigh of relief” over the high student numbers, the true picture would only become clear once the new term begins.
A DfE spokesperson said ministers were “taking action to restore universities as engines of opportunity, aspiration and growth” and making sure they had a secure future.
“We are putting them on a firmer financial footing, including by raising tuition fee caps in line with forecast inflation and the Office for Students refocusing on monitoring the financial health of the sector.”
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