University applications slow down

Number of applicants to UK universities is up only 2.1% this year, surprising those who thought there would be a rush before tuition fees soar

The rapid increase in the number of young people applying to UK universities over the last five years appears to be tailing off, statistics show.

Figures published today by the University and College Admissions Service (Ucas) reveal that the number of applicants while at a record high has only increased by 2.1% in the last year.

Between 2007 and 2008, the number of applicants grew by 8.3%. A year later, the increase was 8.8%. Between 2009 and 2010, the growth was 15.3%.

This autumn, 633,811 applicants hope to start full-time undergraduate degree courses, the figures reveal. Last year, 487,329 people were accepted on to courses, meaning that this summer, 146,482 could be rejected by all the universities to which they have applied.

Many people expected there to be a rush of applicants this year, hoping to get on to courses before fees almost treble, as almost three-quarters of universities in England intend to charge 9,000 tuition fees from autumn 2012 the maximum allowed.

Ministers allowed universities to offer an extra 10,000 university places for last year and this. But in 2012, these places will not be available.

This year's figures show that degrees in history, philosophy and classics are less popular than they were last year, while places on physics, maths and engineering courses are more sought after.

Applications for history and for philosophy are down by 1.5%, while those for linguistics or classics have fallen by 4.2%. Applications for European languages have dropped by 0.8%, but non-European languages have increased by the same amount.

However, applications for maths and computer science have risen by 6.5%, while for engineering they have climbed by 4.7%. Nursing has grown by 14%.

T! he propo rtion of university hopefuls who are older than 18 when they apply continues to rise. The proportion of 19-year-olds who applied this year has grown by 6.2% while those aged 24 has grown by 4%.

How much are universities planning to charge in 2012? Consult our datablog for the breakdown.


guardian.co.uk Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds


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