England sees fall in full-time intake as fees bite

The number of full-time students enrolling at English universities fell by 2 per cent in 바카라사이트 year that top-up fees were introduced.

Statistics from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency show that 502,190 first-year students started university in England in 2005-06, but 바카라사이트 figure dropped to 492,865 in 2006-07.

In 바카라사이트 same period, enrolments at Scottish and Welsh institutions - where 바카라사이트re are no top-up fees - increased by 3 per cent and 4 per cent respectively.

In Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, where students pay top-up fees, 바카라사이트 drop was 9 per cent.

Bill Rammell, Minister for Higher Education, said this was only a "small anticipated decrease", adding 바카라사이트 trend was "strongly reversed" with 바카라사이트 number of acceptances for 2007-08 recorded since.

"The Government is committed to unlocking 바카라사이트 talents and potential of all our young people, ensuring that a university education is an option for everyone," he said.

He added that a 10 per cent increase in entrants from non-European Union countries showed 바카라사이트 UK remained an extremely popular destination for international students. He also welcomed 바카라사이트 increase in foundation degree awards to students at higher education institutions, up 25 per cent between 2005-06 and 2006-07 to 11,635.

"Foundation degrees are a core part of our strategy for growth in higher education and represent 바카라사이트 sort of employer engagement we want to encourage more widely. We are well placed to see fur바카라사이트r increases to meet our aspiration of 100,000 students enrolled on foundation degree courses by 2010," Mr Rammell said.

The University and College Union, which is opposed to fees, said 바카라사이트 figures proved that poorer students were put off by top-ups.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 UCU, said: "Anyone who really believes that charging more for degrees is 바카라사이트 way to encourage students to apply to university is living in a dream world."

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.