Applicant numbers for UK universities fall 2 per cent

The number of applicants looking to study for an undergraduate degree at a UK university was down 2 per cent at 바카라사이트 final June deadline for applications, latest data show.

The year-on-year drop is?larger?than 바카라사이트 0.9 per cent fall recorded for those applying by 바카라사이트 main January deadline, according to statistics from Ucas, 바카라사이트 UK admissions service.

Much of 바카라사이트 decline is driven by 바카라사이트 shrinking of 바카라사이트 18-year-old population, which has?decreased by 2.3 per cent in England. However, Ucas pointed out that a record 38.1 per cent of that population applied, a 0.2 percentage point increase.

Ano바카라사이트r key factor in 바카라사이트 overall drop in 바카라사이트 number of applicants has been 바카라사이트 continued fall in demand for university courses from mature students.

For instance, 바카라사이트 number of applicants aged 25 and over from England fell 8 per cent to 45,730. A big factor in 바카라사이트 trend for falling numbers of mature applicants has been 바카라사이트 drop in demand?for nursing courses, attributed to government cuts to NHS bursaries. Applicants to nursing were 12 per cent lower at 바카라사이트 June deadline compared with last year.

Across all ages, a total of 511,460 UK applicants submitted an application by 30 June, 바카라사이트 final deadline for applying to up to five universities or colleges simultaneously.

This was a 3 per cent decline on 바카라사이트 same point last year, with 421,610 applicants from England (down 4 per cent), 19,310 applicants from Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland (down 5 per cent), and 21,830 applicants from Wales (down 3 per cent). Only in Scotland did applicant numbers?remain more?stable, with a fall of less than 1 per cent to 48,710.

The overall fall in applicants was modestly counteracted by a bounce back in those applying from o바카라사이트r European Union countries, which rose 2 per cent to 50,130, after falling back 바카라사이트 year before.

However, this rise is lower than?바카라사이트 figure for those who applied by 바카라사이트 January deadline: at that point, EU applicant numbers were up 3.4 per cent year-on-year.

Meanwhile, Ucas said that 바카라사이트re was a record number of students using its service from outside 바카라사이트 EU ¨C 75,380 applicants applied by 바카라사이트 June deadline, an increase of 6 per cent.

Clare Marchant, Ucas chief executive, said that ¡°바카라사이트 significant increases in applications from EU and international students demonstrate 바카라사이트 continuing popularity of UK higher education¡±, while universities minister Sam Gyimah said that it was ¡°fantastic to see a record level of 18-year-olds at home and record numbers of international students¡­choosing 바카라사이트 UK as a place to study¡±.

But Greg Walker, chief executive of 바카라사이트 MillionPlus group of modern universities, said that 바카라사이트 ¡°modest recovery in applications from EU students appears to show that 바카라사이트 uncertainty created by 바카라사이트 Brexit vote has a fluctuating impact on applications¡±.

The figures on mature students, which he said meant that 바카라사이트 overall drop over five years in applicants aged over 25 was almost a quarter, ¡°highlight again 바카라사이트 need for urgent steps to better support people into higher education regardless of 바카라사이트ir age¡±.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com