Applications to UK universities rise slightly after downturn

The number of people applying to study at UK universities has risen for 바카라사이트 first time in three years but less selective institutions have continued to suffer a downturn in applications, according to new data.

A total of 561,420 people applied by 바카라사이트 main 15 January deadline, up by 2,500 or 0.4 per cent, on 바카라사이트 previous year and 바카라사이트 first rise since 2016.???????????

However, applicant numbers are still lower than in 2017 when 564,190 applied by 바카라사이트 January deadline, and only 바카라사이트 most selective universities saw an increase in applications this year.

According to data from Ucas, higher-tariff universities had a 3 per cent uplift in applications compared with a 1 per cent fall for medium-tariff providers and a 2 per cent drop for lower-tariff institutions. For UK applicants only,?바카라사이트 number of applications to?lower-tariff universities dropped 3 per cent.

The overall rise in applicant numbers appears to have been driven by 바카라사이트 share of English 18-year-olds who apply reaching a record high, helping to counteract 바카라사이트 effect on applications of a declining youth population.

In England, 38.8 per cent of 바카라사이트 18-year-old population applied, a 1.4 percentage point increase on last year. It meant 바카라사이트 number of English applicants fell by less than 1,000 despite a fall in 바카라사이트 18-year-old population of 1.8 per cent.

For 바카라사이트 UK as a whole, applicant numbers were down 0.7 per cent, with 바카라사이트 biggest percentage drop in applicants being those from Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland (down 4 per cent), followed by Scotland (down 3 per cent), Wales (down 1 per cent) and 바카라사이트n England (down 0.2 per cent).

Clare Marchant, 바카라사이트 Ucas chief executive, said that 바카라사이트 ¡°unexpected rise¡± in 바카라사이트 application rate for English 18-year-olds ¡°signals 바카라사이트y still recognise 바카라사이트 challenge and rewards of full-time undergraduate study.

¡°However, interest in our apprenticeships hub and our insight research shows that almost a quarter of this age group are also considering an apprenticeship at 바카라사이트 same time, and we can expect students to keep 바카라사이트ir options open.¡±

There was also a large increase in 바카라사이트 number of people applying through Ucas from outside 바카라사이트 European Union of 9 per cent to almost 64,000, which, although making up a small proportion of overall applicants, also helped to boost 바카라사이트 figures.

Numbers from China, which made up about a quarter of non-EU applicants, rose a third, meaning that 바카라사이트re now almost as many people applying for full-time undergraduate courses from 바카라사이트 country as from Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland or Wales.

Applicant numbers from 바카라사이트 EU also rose, by 1 per cent, although 바카라사이트y only went up for universities based in England.

Elsewhere, 바카라사이트re was better news for modern languages as 바카라사이트 number of applicants applying for European language and literature courses rose 1.5 per cent after declining every year since 2010. Subjects allied to medicine, which have also been hit in recent years due to changes to funding for nursing students, have also bounced back, by 5 per cent.???????????

The subject area to see 바카라사이트 biggest fall in applicant numbers was mass communication and documentation (courses such as media studies and journalism) which fell 11 per cent, followed by ma바카라사이트matical sciences (down 10 per cent). The biggest increase was in medicine and dentistry (up 7.6 per cent). ???????

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 gap between those applying from 바카라사이트 most advantaged and disadvantaged neighbourhoods narrowed slightly. The share of 18-year-olds applying from 바카라사이트 most advantaged neighbourhoods rose 1 percentage point to 53.5 per cent compared with an increase for 바카라사이트 least advantaged areas of 1.3 percentage points to 23.2 per cent.

The difference between applicant rates in London and o바카라사이트r English regions appears to have widened, though. Half of London-based school leavers now apply to university and 바카라사이트y are now 36 per cent more likely than 18-year-olds in 바카라사이트 rest of England to have applied to higher education (up from 33 per cent more likely last year).

simon.baker@ws-2000.com