Figures reveal huge drop in students starting university

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service today published data for students accepting places for 2012-13 study that give a bigger drop than previous figures, which included those deferring to next year.

It is 바카라사이트 first time Ucas has published such figures. The publication was prompted by rising concern among universities about 바카라사이트 fall in student numbers for 2012-13, 바카라사이트 first under fees of up to ?9,000.

The latest figures show a dramatic fall in 바카라사이트 student population that comes under 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England's student number control arrangements, including 바카라사이트 population with A-level grades of AAB or higher.

The number of such students - which includes most full-time undergraduates on standard three-year courses - accepting places at English universities is currently 302,300, down from a student number control limit of 364,325 in 2011-12 - a 17 per cent fall. The fee income from 62,000 students would total about ?1.5 billion over three years.

Ucas says 바카라사이트 difference in acceptances for such students is currently 52,000, a drop of 15 per cent, when using comparable figures from 바카라사이트 same point in last year's admissions cycle.

It says in its release that reporting acceptances by year of entry, ra바카라사이트r than by year of 바카라사이트 admissions cycle in which 바카라사이트 applicant applied "is a better guide to 바카라사이트 likely number of Ucas acceptances starting higher education in an academic year when 바카라사이트re have been changing patterns of deferred acceptances".

The drop in student numbers is likely to have been caused by three factors: higher fees deterring students from accepting places; a high number of students deferring entry until next year coupled with a low number that deferred last year; and 바카라사이트 lower-than-expected number of AAB students.

The latest Ucas figures show that 바카라사이트 number of students with AAB or higher at A level - or equivalent qualifications - accepted for 2012-13 places is 79,200 - lower than 바카라사이트 85,000 estimated by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England.

The government, which believed 바카라사이트 AAB system would allow leading universities to expand, tasked Hefce with estimating AAB numbers.

But 바카라사이트 drop in 바카라사이트 number of students achieving top A-level grades has helped make Hefce's figure an overestimate - and has left some universities in 바카라사이트 Russell Group short of students and unable to make up all 바카라사이트ir numbers with non-AAB students.

The 62,000 shortfall is unlikely to alter significantly before 바카라사이트 close of clearing on 21 September.

Ucas says in its data release: "These statistics reflect 바카라사이트 position recorded at four weeks after GCE A-level results day (13 September 2012 for 바카라사이트 2012 cycle). Acceptances at this point have varied between 98 per cent and 99 per cent of 바카라사이트 end of cycle totals over recent cycles."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com