14/02/2007

Rise in UK university applications

The number of students applying to universities in the UK has risen by 6.4 per cent.

The figures, produced by the admissions service Ucas, shows the number of people applying to full-time undergraduate courses, due to begin in September this year, has increased by 23,624.

The top-up fees deterred many students applying for university last year, but according to the report the impact has not been very long lasting.

Applicants to English universities increased by 7.2 per cent, Scotland universities by 1.9 per cent and Northern Ireland university applicants saw a rise of 0.3 per cent.

However, institutions in Wales saw a drop of 0.1 per cent in applications.

Anthony McClaran, the chief executive of Ucas, said: "These figures are encouraging for all who believe the expansion of higher education is good for individuals and good for our society.

"Not only has last year's dip in applications been reversed, but application levels are now higher than in 2005 which had previously broken all records. The increase is particularly marked in England.

"It's also good to see evidence of effective competition for international students, with double digit increases in the key markets of the India, Pakistan and the United States."

The number of people applying from outside of the EU rose by 6.6 per cent and applicants from China have risen by 1.3 per cent and from Hong Kong by 10.3 per cent. (CD)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

12 December 2012
One In Three Year Six Children Overweight
One in three final year primary school children are overweight or obese. The percentage of final year – Year 6 - primary school children (generally aged ten to 11) who were overweight or obese increased to 33.9 per cent in 2011/12, up from 33.4 per cent in the previous year.
25 April 2003
Undergraduate applications rise by 4 per cent
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has today released figures today revealing that applications for undergraduate courses is up by nearly 4%. The latest figures from UCAS show that 393,750 applicants applied by 24 March for courses starting in Autumn 2003. This is up by 14,864 (3.9%) on the same point last year.
26 June 2006
Six per cent rise in income for Prince Charles
The Prince of Wales's private income increased by 6% to more than £14 million last year, according to Clarence House accounts. The rise in the 2005-06 fiscal year was attributed to commercial property rent reviews and increased investment income, the Duchy of Cornwall accounts revealed.
29 April 2003
BP posts record first-quarter profits
BP's first-quarter results have revealed record profits, as the war in Iraq and political instability in two other oil producing countries forced up oil prices. The results showed a $3.73 billion profit in three months, exceeding the previous best quarterly profit posted in 2001.
17 April 2012
UK House Prices Rise
In the year to February 2012, UK house prices increased by 0.3 per cent, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS). The average UK mix-adjusted house price was £224,473. Average house prices increased in both England and Scotland by 0.4 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively.