LIVERPOOl Hope University's vice-chancellor last night warned this year’s scramble for places will be “murder” after being forced to turn away three times as many students.

And the warning shot came as the region’s universities confirmed the clearing process which starts today is set to be the fiercest and shortest on record – with students bidding to beat rising tuition fees from 2012 and predicted debts of up to £50,000.

As A-Level results were today due to rise for the 29th consecutive year, Liverpool Hope University last night confirmed that despite tougher entry requirements demand for its courses was so high that 36% more students had received rejection letters this year.

Such is the demand the university, which will charge £8,250 from 2012, has seen virtually all its teaching degree courses fully booked and will reduce the normal clearing window for students not faring as well in their A-Levels as expected from a week to one or two days.

Just 70 out of around 1,500 places are expected to be still up for grabs.

Last night Liverpool Hope University’s second in command, Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor Bill Chambers said although a higher quality of courses was a factor, fee rises from 2012 were a major reason for unprecedented demand which had seen firm acceptances of conditional offers rise by 13%.

He said: “The students are all rushing to get places before rises to tuition fees and demand is very high even though for the last four or five years we have increased entry point requirements.

“It (clearing) is going to be murder and students will probably have to get in on the first day.”