A cash-strapped university has closed entry to its undergraduate courses without entering the clearing process.

The University of Sussex said yesterday it had opted not to take part in clearing and had chosen instead to accept students who had been offered places but fallen short of their target A-level points scores.

A university spokeswoman said: "We would rather take a student who has put Sussex as their first choice, and thereby displayed a strong commitment to the university, and missed by one point, than a student who has put another institution as their top choice."

Head of the undergraduate office, Rob Evans, said all faculties had full registers and no additional places needed to be filled through clearing - the process used to find a place for students who failed to get the points score wanted by their university of choice.

Mr Evans said: "The vast majority of places are taken by students who fulfil their offers, in some cases where students fall one or two points short we will consider their application and offer them places."

The university has not taken part in clearing for the past four years.

There were angry demonstrations earlier this year after the university announced plans to axe its chemistry department in a cost-cutting venture.

It later made a U-turn after prolonged pressure.

In March, the university said it expected to finish the financial year with a £2 million running deficit.

Mr Evans said: "Sussex received a record number of applications for places this year. It has increased by almost 40 per cent in the past two years."

He said rebranding, an improved league table performance and the attraction of Brighton as a city, had all boosted the university's popularity.

The University of Brighton said yesterday it was confident of filling the 300 places it had offered through clearing.

A spokeswoman said: "In previous years we have offered 400 to 500 places so we are pleased to be looking for less this time.

It shows the university has become more popular."