University Applications Down 9%

The increased cap on fees has had a huge affect on the amount of university applicants, with a fall of 9% in this year's submissions for university courses.

According to a statistical report from applicant body Ucas, the numbers of students applying to courses has fallen hugely in contrast to the gradual increase in full time students since the 1990s.

Ucas have received almost 7,000 fewer applications than last year at this point in the term, with some of the biggest drops coming in applications to humanities subjects.

Although there is still time for applications to be submitted, the drop is indicative of a large decrease in student applicants for the year.

In September, a report by academics at the London School of Economics’ Centre for the Economics of Education predicted a 7.51% reduction in university entrance rates for men and 4.92% fall for women, when higher tuition fees came in for the 2012 academic year.

The theory appears to be borne out in Monday's Ucas report.

However, in response to the publication, Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said: “It's too early to read into these figures at the very start of the applications process. Historically, the application figures at the end of October have proven to be unreliable indicators of the final numbers. It may also be that students are taking longer this year to consider their options.

“Today’s figures include numbers applying for courses with 15 October deadlines [Oxbridge, dentistry, veterinary and medicine], which form a very small portion of overall applications. The rates of application for this deadline are in line with expectations, only down 0.8%.

“Most importantly, we must not risk presenting skewed readings of statistics and risk putting off potential students from applying.

Ms Dandridge added that higher education will see major changes from 2012 and universities were still having to respond to proposals introduced in the recent government White Paper.

(DW/BMcC)