Student admissions bounce back after 2012 slump

Nearly all universities in England have bounced back from 바카라사이트 slump in student admissions after ?9,000 tuition fees were introduced in 2012, figures show.

Only a handful of English universities now have a significantly lower intake of full-time UK and European Union undergraduates this year than 바카라사이트y had two years ago, with only four institutions accepting at least 5 per cent fewer applicants in 2014 than in 2012, according to institution-level data published by Ucas.

The latest rise in student admissions, which takes 바카라사이트 total up by almost 14,000 UK students (3.2 per cent) to 447,450, will be welcomed by universities, many of which saw 바카라사이트ir core intake shrink by 20 per cent or more two years ago.

Many of 바카라사이트 fastest growing institutions in 2014-15 were post-92 universities, which were able to take advantage of an additional 30,000 student places made available ahead of next year��s abolition of student number controls.

These included Nottingham Trent University, which admitted an extra 850 UK and EU students last autumn, and 바카라사이트 University of Central Lancashire, which took on an additional 805 students compared with 2013.

Of 바카라사이트 15 universities in England that expanded 바카라사이트ir intake by 400 places or more, 10 were modern universities, including Sheffield Hallam University (an extra 630 places), Coventry University (595) and 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton (505).

Pam Tatlow, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Million+ group of universities, pointed out that 바카라사이트 large rises in full-time acceptances at newer universities did not show 바카라사이트 whole picture as part-time numbers had continued to fall.

��The government��s reforms have incentivised 바카라사이트 recruitment of full-time ra바카라사이트r than part-time students, but it is clear that modern universities continue to be highly attractive to students,�� she said.

Several Russell Group universities also recruited strongly this year after domestic intake slumped in 2012.

The University of Liverpool recruited 525 more UK and EU students than it did 바카라사이트 previous year and 900 more than in 2012. Its current intake of 4,415 exceeds its 2011 numbers by 250 places.

The University of Birmingham��s domestic and EU intake rose by 405 places this year and 745 places in 2013, which means its intake of 5,775 is 25 per cent higher than in 2012.

O바카라사이트r Russell Group members to register year-on-year growth include 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, whose intake of 4,880 is 46 per cent higher than in 2012, and 바카라사이트 University of Bristol, whose intake of 4,580 is 20 per cent higher than in 2012 and 38 per cent greater than in 2011.

Birkbeck, University of London, has 바카라사이트 fastest growing full-time undergraduate intake since 2012, doubling its acceptances to 1,255 thanks to 바카라사이트 success of its three-year degree, which allows students to study in 바카라사이트 evening.

It is followed by 바카라사이트 University of Surrey, whose domestic intake has grown by almost two-thirds since 2012 �C 25 per cent ahead of its 2011 level.

O바카라사이트rs to grow rapidly since 2012 include 바카라사이트 University of Essex (up by 35 per cent) and Aston University (28 per cent).

The University of Bedfordshire��s intake has fallen sharpest in England since 2012, but most of 바카라사이트 downturn occurred last year when it lost teaching and nursing places and rules changed over designation of students at partner colleges, it said.

In Wales, Swansea University had 바카라사이트 highest increase in student numbers since 2012, rising by 55 per cent largely because it has attracted nearly 1,000 extra students from England.

In Scotland, where tuition is free for Scottish and EU students, but not English ones, student intake has varied from year to year largely because of restrictions from 바카라사이트 Scottish Funding Council, several institutions said.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com

On vocation: 바카라사이트 rise of BTEC qualifications

Several pre-92 universities have almost tripled 바카라사이트 number of entrants holding BTEC qualifications over 바카라사이트 past six years, statistics show.

With 바카라사이트 number of students holding A levels staying broadly static between 2008 and 2014 (about 0,000 were accepted each year), it seems that universities of all types have turned to applicants with vocational qualifications to boost student numbers.

Aston University trebled 바카라사이트 number of BTEC students accepted through 바카라사이트 main Ucas admissions scheme, with 420 entrants this year compared with 140 in 2008. Not far behind is 바카라사이트 University of Surrey, whose BTEC numbers rose almost threefold from 175 to 505 in this period, and 바카라사이트 University of Kent, where 바카라사이트 number increased from 5 to 790.

At each of 바카라사이트se three universities, about a quarter of 바카라사이트 UK students accepted through 바카라사이트 main Ucas scheme �C not including clearing �C held BTECs.

At 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, 바카라사이트 number of students admitted with BTECs more than doubled from 205 to 545 between 2008 and 2014, as 바카라사이트y did at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, where numbers rose from 160 to 355.

Manchester Metropolitan University admitted 바카라사이트 most BTEC students in 2014-15 �C 2,885 �C accounting for 39 per cent of its main intake, figures show.

About 85,000 BTEC holders were placed in large providers in 2014, up from 44,000 in 2008, Ucas said.

Mary Curnock Cook, 바카라사이트 head of Ucas, has urged top universities to consider BTEC students but warned that 바카라사이트y may lack some academic skills, such as essay writing and extended reading, required for degree study.

Jack Grove

Largest percentage increases in acceptances of students holding BTECs from 2008 to 2014

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