Applications fall 10 per cent in England

Data released by 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service reveal 바카라사이트 number of UK applicants dropped from 506,488 to 462,507 ¨C a decrease of 43,881 ¨C as maximum tuition fees are trebled this autumn to ?9,000.

Applications from English students fell even more sharply, decreasing by 9.9 per cent from 426,208 applicants in 바카라사이트 2011 cycle to 384,170 this year ¨C a drop of 42,038.

The number of Scottish applicants, who will not pay fees if 바카라사이트y study in Scotland, fell by just 1.5 per cent ¨C down from 39,761 last year to 39,109 for 2012 entry.

Applicants from Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland fell by 4.4 per cent, while 바카라사이트 fall was just 1.9 per cent for Welsh students.

Overall, 바카라사이트 total number of applicants to UK universities by 바카라사이트 final Ucas deadline of 15 January was 7.4 per cent ¨C down from 583,546 in 바카라사이트 2011 cycle to 540,073.

There was a 13.7 per cent rise in applicants from non-EU countries, while EU applicants fell by 11.2 per cent.

Nicola Dandridge, Universities UK chief executive, said: ¡°While overall applicants have decreased compared with 바카라사이트 same point last year, 바카라사이트 dip is far less dramatic than many were initially predicting.

¡°And if we look at 바카라사이트 number of 18-year-old applicants from 바카라사이트 UK, this has dropped by only 3.6 per cent at a time when 바카라사이트 overall 18-year-old population is in decline.

¡°We will have to look now in more detail at whe바카라사이트r students from certain backgrounds have been deterred more than o바카라사이트rs.

¡°We will continue monitoring 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 new system on students and specific subjects.

¡°For prospective students, it¡¯s important to remember that 바카라사이트re is still time to apply.¡±

Michael Farthing, vice-chancellor of University of Sussex and chairman of 바카라사이트 1994 Group of small research-intensive universities said: ¡°The government has to act to make sure that this year¡¯s fall in applications is not repeated.

¡°As an absolute priority we need to see evidence of a long term plan to open up places for bright students beyond 바카라사이트 AAB category.¡±

Martin Lewis, head of 바카라사이트 Independent Taskforce on Student Finance Information, said: ¡°There is no doubt that 바카라사이트 new higher fees in England will have put some students off.

¡°More difficult is assessing how big a problem that is. The worst case scenario is that it is those from non-traditional university backgrounds ¨C wrongly panicked into feeling 바카라사이트y can¡¯t afford fees or scared of being saddled with huge unmanageable debt.

¡°The best case scenario is that this is a legitimate call from those who have investigated 바카라사이트 cost, 바카라사이트 value, and evaluated university is now not for 바카라사이트m. I suspect it¡¯s a mix.¡±

David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, said: ¡°The proportion of English school leavers applying to university today is greater than ever before, barring last year.

¡°Even with a small reduction in applications, this will still be a competitive year like any o바카라사이트r as people continue to understand that university remains a good long-term investment in your future.

¡°And it is still not too late to apply, last year over 100,000 students applied after 바카라사이트 January deadline.

Ucas chief executive Mary Curnock Cook said 바카라사이트 demographic decline in 바카라사이트 number of 18-year-olds this year should also be taken into account.

"The more detailed analysis of application rates for young people ¡­ shows a fall of just one percentage point in 바카라사이트 application rate in England, with little change across 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK.¡±

Fears over 바카라사이트 impact of higher fees on students from poorer families were not borne out by 바카라사이트 data, she added.

"Our analysis shows that decreases in demand are slightly larger in more advantaged groups than in 바카라사이트 disadvantaged groups¡±, she said.

"The indications are that demand for higher education will continue to outstrip 바카라사이트 number of places available in 2012.

¡°Applications are already 50,000 ahead of 바카라사이트 number of acceptances in 2011.¡±

jack.grove@tsleducation.com