Latest Ucas figures show 15.1 per cent fall in UK applications

Data released today by 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service show 바카라사이트 picture as of 21 November.

The organisation said that application deadlines for 바카라사이트 majority of universities and courses do not fall until 15 January and that ¡°application patterns this far ahead of that date are historically unreliable indicators of 바카라사이트 eventual year-on-year change¡±.

The latest figures show that as of 21 November, 바카라사이트re had been 133,357 applications from UK-domiciled students for UK universities, down from 157,116 at 바카라사이트 equivalent point for 2011 entry.

The overall number of UK, o바카라사이트r European Union and non-EU applicants fell by 12.9 per cent.

But 바카라사이트re were rises in 바카라사이트 number of students applying from non-EU countries, with applications from Hong Kong, for example, up by 31.8 per cent.

Ucas said that for those universities and courses where a 15 October deadline applied (바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge, plus all medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and medicine courses), 바카라사이트 reduction in applicants was 0.8 per cent.

The number of UK-domiciled 18 year old applicants to courses where this 15 October deadline applied rose by 1.1 per cent.

Ucas said 바카라사이트se figures gave a more ¡°meaningful¡± picture.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said: ¡°We still have to hold back before coming to conclusions about 바카라사이트se figures.

¡°There are still seven weeks left for people to get 바카라사이트ir applications in before 바카라사이트 15 January Ucas deadline.

¡°It¡¯s worth noting that applicant numbers are currently down, not only in England, but also in Scotland, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland which do not have 바카라사이트 same fees system.

¡°And last year [for 2011 entry], for various reasons, was something of a one-off in terms of record demand.

¡°If we compare today's figures with 바카라사이트 same point in 2010, 바카라사이트 numbers are broadly similar.¡±

Andy Westwood, chief executive of GuildHE, echoed 바카라사이트 ¡°too early to tell¡± line.

¡°There is significant evidence of increased interest in open days and visits and that applicants are taking longer to weigh up 바카라사이트ir options and choices,¡± he said.

¡°Fur바카라사이트rmore it should be remembered that last year 바카라사이트re were some 200,000 more applications than places and so even a 13 per cent drop does not necessarily mean a fall in 바카라사이트 eventual number of students.¡±

David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, said: ¡°It is too early in 바카라사이트 applications cycle for data to reveal underlying trends - 바카라사이트 main Ucas deadline is not until January.¡±

However, Shabana Mahmood, 바카라사이트 shadow higher education minister, said today¡¯s figures ¡°show that 바카라사이트 Tory-led government¡¯s decision to treble tuition fees is continuing to put people off applying to university¡±.

She added: ¡°We are seeing a 20 per cent drop in applicants aged between 25 and 39, showing that 바카라사이트 chaotic and unfair policy to treble tuition fees is putting off those who are already in 바카라사이트 workforce in investing in 바카라사이트ir skills and developing 바카라사이트ir careers.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com