As reported by the BBC News:
So many parents have been chasing university places for their children that the admissions system [in the UK] is now letting parents act as their agents.
Students entering university this autumn will be the first whose admissions decisions and negotiations can be handled by their parents. In the past, the admissions service had to deal directly with applicants . . .
The university admissions service, Ucas, says that in response to the number of calls from parents that it has decided to allow parents to act as their children’s representatives in handling applications.
As such, young people making applications this year have been allowed to nominate a proxy to speak for them and make decisions.