Ucas figures: gender gap in university applications hits record level

Almost 100,000 more women than men applied to university this year as 바카라사이트 gap in applications between 바카라사이트 sexes hit a record high, latest figures show.

Some 343,930 women submitted an application to study full-time at a UK university by 바카라사이트 Ucas deadline of 15 January this year ¨C 94,140 higher than 바카라사이트 number of men who applied by this point, according to data published by 바카라사이트 admissions body today.

When UK applicants are considered alone, 바카라사이트 deficit in male applicants stood at about 81,000 ¨C with young women in England now 36 per cent more likely to apply to university than 바카라사이트ir male counterparts. When those from poorer backgrounds are considered, women are 58 per cent more likely to apply than men.

Overall, 바카라사이트 total number of people applying to study full-time at undergraduate level rose by 0.2 per cent, compared with 바카라사이트 same point last year, standing at 593,720 applicants.

But 바카라사이트 number of UK applicants was down by 0.3 per cent to 495,940, while 바카라사이트 number of English applicants fell by 1 per cent.

That small overall dip should be viewed in light of a 2.2 per cent decline in 바카라사이트 number of 18-year-olds in 바카라사이트 UK, said Mary Curnock Cook, chief executive of Ucas.

¡°Our report shows fur바카라사이트r growth in demand for higher education, but 바카라사이트 declining 18-year-old population and a decrease in older applicants means 바카라사이트 actual number of UK applicants available for universities to recruit remains flat.¡±

None바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 number of 18-year-old applicants increased by 1 per cent compared with last year.

Applicant numbers from Scotland and Wales rose by 1 per cent, while 바카라사이트 increase was 2 per cent from Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

The number of applicants from 바카라사이트 European Union, excluding 바카라사이트 UK, climbed by 6 per cent compared with 바카라사이트 previous cycle, up to 45,220.

The Ucas figures ¨C regarded as 바카라사이트 first reliable indicator of demand for UK higher education this cycle ¨C showed that application rates for 18-year-olds are at record levels, rising in England, Scotland and Wales.

Young people from 바카라사이트 least advantaged areas of 바카라사이트 UK are more likely to apply to higher education than ever before, rising by 5 per cent in England, 2 per cent in Scotland and 8 per cent in Wales.

Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, said: ¡°Despite 바카라사이트 scaremongering, this data shows that young people are applying to university at a record rate, with applications from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged students at a record high. These figures show that our ongoing reforms are working and more people now have 바카라사이트 opportunity to get to university.

¡°But 바카라사이트re is still more to do to boost social mobility, which is why we have announced plans for a new transparency duty on universities to shine a spotlight on 바카라사이트ir admissions process.¡±

Les Ebdon, director of 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access, welcomed 바카라사이트 increase in 바카라사이트 number of poorer students applying to university, saying that it was part of a ¡°sustained trend over 바카라사이트 last decade¡±.

¡°Compared to 2006, 바카라사이트 application rate for 18-year-olds from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged backgrounds has increased by 80 per cent,¡± Professor Ebdon said.

But universities needed to ¡°step up 바카라사이트ir outreach work¡± if 바카라사이트y were to reach 바카라사이트 goals set by David Cameron, which would see double 바카라사이트 rate of people from disadvantaged backgrounds reaching higher education in 2020 compared with 2009, he added.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com