Sorry to bump an old topic, well its still on page one.
University's also have 'clearing' where they will take on people just to fill the course depending on a sort of 'personal statement' which the applicant emails/writes to them.
It means 'less' qualified students can have a chance, but only if there are spaces on the course.
Luckily for me, I'm going to college to do an HND in Software Development, and my college has a 2+2 system so at the end of my two years I'm automatically entered into Robert Gordon's University to do my BSc in Software Development for 2 years.
So technically, if you think about it, I'd do less work and pay less for my degree.