Business Wire·Jun 30, 2026, 4:00 AM ET

UK Pupils and Students Aren’t the Only Ones Feeling Exam Pressure - Universities Are Too, with £2Bn at Stake

Over 80,000 students are expected to call university clearing lines within an eight-hour window in August 2026.
Each student represents an average of £27,000 in tuition fees, totaling approximately £2 billion in potential revenue for universities.
Last year, 77,000 students entered clearing, with data showing significant disparities in call handling times across institutions.
Universities supported by 8x8 reported average wait times of under eight seconds, whereas non-supported institutions saw waits exceeding 18 minutes.
University of Worcester handled 3,325 calls last year with an average wait time of 32 seconds, dropping to ten seconds on the busiest day.
James Starvella of 8x8 noted that while call volumes grow annually, dropped calls result in direct financial losses & preventable failures.
8x8's platform integrates contact center & unified communications solutions to help universities manage high call volumes efficiently.
The press release includes forward-looking statements regarding 8x8's capabilities & disclaimers about potential risks & uncertainties.