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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| More hope to study at university | More hope to study at university |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The number of people wanting to study undergraduate courses at UK universities this autumn has risen by 8% on last year, figures show. | The number of people wanting to study undergraduate courses at UK universities this autumn has risen by 8% on last year, figures show. |
| Within the figures produced by the admissions body Ucas there is a 13% rise in applications from over-21s, and 12% from EU nationals outside the UK. | Within the figures produced by the admissions body Ucas there is a 13% rise in applications from over-21s, and 12% from EU nationals outside the UK. |
| Ministers said young people valued a degree in these "challenging times". | Ministers said young people valued a degree in these "challenging times". |
| University representatives said extra places had been cut by the government's miscalculation of available funding. | University representatives said extra places had been cut by the government's miscalculation of available funding. |
| Last month England's Universities Secretary, John Denham, sent a strong message to universities that they must stop "over-recruiting", and said there would be financial penalties for doing so. | Last month England's Universities Secretary, John Denham, sent a strong message to universities that they must stop "over-recruiting", and said there would be financial penalties for doing so. |
| He said additional student places would be capped at 10,000 - when it was previously thought there would be 15,000 extra places available, meaning A-level students face increased competition for places. | He said additional student places would be capped at 10,000 - when it was previously thought there would be 15,000 extra places available, meaning A-level students face increased competition for places. |
| Mr Denham said that he was reducing funding for 2009 from his previous prediction. The problem arose because more of the additional students qualified for grants than had been anticipated. | Mr Denham said that he was reducing funding for 2009 from his previous prediction. The problem arose because more of the additional students qualified for grants than had been anticipated. |
| Diana Warwick, chief executive of Universities UK, said: "These are very encouraging figures. | Diana Warwick, chief executive of Universities UK, said: "These are very encouraging figures. |
| "Applicants are making informed choices and thinking carefully about the value of higher education, particularly in the current economic climate." | "Applicants are making informed choices and thinking carefully about the value of higher education, particularly in the current economic climate." |
| The figures also suggest that newer universities are no less popular - with some seeing a rise in applications well above the national rate. | The figures also suggest that newer universities are no less popular - with some seeing a rise in applications well above the national rate. |
| GuildHE, which represents some of the newest universities, says applications to study at Buckinghamshire New University are up 33%, with a 30% rise in applicants to University College Birmingham. | GuildHE, which represents some of the newest universities, says applications to study at Buckinghamshire New University are up 33%, with a 30% rise in applicants to University College Birmingham. |
| 'Growth' | 'Growth' |
| Northern Irish institutions are attracting more English applicants than ever before - with a 17% rise in applicants, even though the fees payable there are the same as in England. | Northern Irish institutions are attracting more English applicants than ever before - with a 17% rise in applicants, even though the fees payable there are the same as in England. |
| Fees are lower in Wales for Welsh and other EU students, while in Scotland most undergraduate degrees are free for Scottish students and other EU students, but £1,735 a year for those from elsewhere within the UK. | |
| The percentage of applicants from EU countries applying to UK institutions has risen by 12% overall - and applicants from outside the EU have risen by 10%. | The percentage of applicants from EU countries applying to UK institutions has risen by 12% overall - and applicants from outside the EU have risen by 10%. |
| The largest percentage increases are in the numbers applying from Romania and Bulgaria - 72% and 58% respectively - though they represent a very small proportion of overall applicants. | The largest percentage increases are in the numbers applying from Romania and Bulgaria - 72% and 58% respectively - though they represent a very small proportion of overall applicants. |
| It is clear that even in these more challenging times people recognise the value of a degree and the investment in their future career Higher education minister David Lammy | It is clear that even in these more challenging times people recognise the value of a degree and the investment in their future career Higher education minister David Lammy |
| The number of students who applied for a full-time course at a UK university was 464,167 - up 33,678 or 7.8% on last year. | The number of students who applied for a full-time course at a UK university was 464,167 - up 33,678 or 7.8% on last year. |
| Female applicants still outnumber male applicants by a considerable number. | Female applicants still outnumber male applicants by a considerable number. |
| Ucas chief executive Anthony McCLaran welcomed the "strong and continuous growth" in full-time undergraduate applications. | Ucas chief executive Anthony McCLaran welcomed the "strong and continuous growth" in full-time undergraduate applications. |
| Law and languages | Law and languages |
| Law is still the most popular subject to study at university, but there has been a 15% rise in applicants to study nursing, which means it enters the top five most popular courses for the first time. | Law is still the most popular subject to study at university, but there has been a 15% rise in applicants to study nursing, which means it enters the top five most popular courses for the first time. |
| There are also large rises in the numbers wanting to study economics, and combinations involving science. Journalism and biological sciences are also up. | There are also large rises in the numbers wanting to study economics, and combinations involving science. Journalism and biological sciences are also up. |
| Applications to study Japanese were up by 29%, but European languages appear to be more or less static. | Applications to study Japanese were up by 29%, but European languages appear to be more or less static. |
| Higher Education Minister David Lammy said: "With nearly 8% more people applying to university and colleges in England than this time last year, it is clear that even in these more challenging times people recognise the value of a degree and the investment in their future career." | Higher Education Minister David Lammy said: "With nearly 8% more people applying to university and colleges in England than this time last year, it is clear that even in these more challenging times people recognise the value of a degree and the investment in their future career." |
| But the National Union of Students president Wes Streeting said he was "concerned about the numbers of places available as a result of the cap in numbers imposed by the government". | But the National Union of Students president Wes Streeting said he was "concerned about the numbers of places available as a result of the cap in numbers imposed by the government". |
| The NUS called on ministers to fund enough places to ensure all students with the ability and aspiration could go to university. | The NUS called on ministers to fund enough places to ensure all students with the ability and aspiration could go to university. |