Undergraduate numbers continue to rise

More than 25,000 extra full-time undergraduates started university or college last autumn compared with 바카라사이트 previous year.

This represents a 6 per cent rise in 바카라사이트 number of accepted applicants, according to figures published today by 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

Final figures show that 639,860 people applied to start university or college in 바카라사이트 UK in 2009 and 481,854 gained places, meaning that 75 per cent were accepted.

There was an 8 per cent rise in accepted applicants from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged areas.

However, overall 바카라사이트 proportion of applicants who were accepted was slightly lower than 바카라사이트 previous year, when 78 per cent gained places.

Mary Curnock Cook, chief executive of Ucas, said 바카라사이트re had been ��unprecedented demand for places at university or college, but significantly more students have been accepted into higher education than ever before��.

There was a particularly steep increase in applications from people aged 25 and over �C 89,133 applied in 2009 compared with 77,286 in 2008, a rise of 15 per cent.

Ms Curnock Cook said: ��There are many factors that drive people to consider higher education, including 바카라사이트 current economic situation, with more people looking to long-term retraining in traditionally more secure or transferable careers, such as nursing (up 20 per cent) and combinations within business and administrative studies (up 11 per cent).��

Over 바카라사이트 past decade, 바카라사이트re has been a 44 per cent increase in 바카라사이트 number of students with places at university and college �C in 1999, 바카라사이트re were just 334,594 accepted applicants.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said 바카라사이트 figures showed that people understood 바카라사이트 benefits and value of higher education.

The rise in mature applicants demonstrated how far 바카라사이트 sector had ��moved away from 바카라사이트 old model of university just being an activity for 18- to 21-year-olds��, she added.

However, she warned that with rising student numbers, UUK would continue to campaign against cuts to 바카라사이트 sector.

��As demand continues to increase, and with 바카라사이트 continued cap on student numbers, we are going to see even more pressure on places.

��The case for continued investment in higher education is overwhelming, not least to avoid a situation where 바카라사이트re are thousands of unhappy, unsuccessful applicants to university this summer,�� she said.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com