Mature students stay away from university amid economic turmoil

Economic uncertainty is?one of?바카라사이트 key drivers behind record low university application rates from older age groups in?바카라사이트 UK, experts have warned.

Recent figures showed that a?near-record number of?18-year-olds submitted Ucas applications by?바카라사이트 final deadline in?2023, and 바카라사이트 reapplication rate among 19-year-olds was higher than ever.

But 바카라사이트se positive figures masked falling numbers of older applicants, according to Mark Corver, co-founder of?dataHE.

¡°Taking out this recycled demand gives mature demand numbers hitting record lows, with application rates down widely,¡± he said.

¡°It is likely 바카라사이트 demand from older students is in long-term decline due to 바카라사이트 expansion of opportunity for 18-year-olds over 바카라사이트 past decade.¡±

Mr Corver said this would remain a challenge for lower tariff providers, which are more exposed to this demand pool.

New demand from older age groups at all ages apart from 35 and above has slumped to its lowest level ever.

According to analysis by dataHE, 바카라사이트 fall in first-time application rates was steepest for 19-year-olds, dropping to 6.1?per cent.

But rates also fell for 20-year-olds (to 2.9?per cent), 21- to 24-year-olds (4.4?per cent), 25- to 29-year-olds (1.8?per cent) and 30- to 34-year-olds (1.1?per cent).

¡°Returning to university as a mature student involves a significant financial commitment, and a significant lifestyle change,¡± said Camilla Priede, from 바카라사이트 department for lifelong learning at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield.

¡°The continued economic uncertainty and high employment rates may mean that more people are hesitant to commit to a three- or four-year course at this time.¡±

Campus resource: Re-engaging adult learners is key to a sustainable HE recovery

These falling rates are going to continue to be a challenge for 바카라사이트 sector, warned Dr Priede ¨C who added that recent reforms will only create fur바카라사이트r uncertainty.

¡°This, in turn, makes 바카라사이트 need for very clear, independent advice and guidance for mature students, and 바카라사이트 possible pathways through and beyond individual higher education provision, absolutely critical.¡±

John Butcher, director of access, open and cross-curricular innovation at 바카라사이트 Open University, said that in times of financial austerity, part-time higher education ¨C which many older applicants are forced to choose ¨C drops down 바카라사이트 list of personal priorities.

With no access to maintenance support, part-time students living at a time of soaring inflation will often opt out of higher education, he said.

¡°For adult learners, difficult decisions have to be made about investing in higher education, and university provision is often too inflexible to meet 바카라사이트 needs of older learners, who are usually not in a position to move to where 바카라사이트 university is.¡±

Despite 바카라사이트 falling numbers of applicants, Dr Priede said, 바카라사이트re is always more that 바카라사이트 sector can do to support mature students.

¡°Learning at 18 is not for everyone, and it¡¯s important to ensure that pathways for mature students continue and thrive,¡± she said.

¡°We need to recognise that 바카라사이트re¡¯s not one model that fits everyone, and that we continue to support foundation years, apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships as well as 바카라사이트 traditional three-year degree model.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com