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| UK university applications down for second year running | UK university applications down for second year running |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| By Judith Burns BBC News education correspondent | By Judith Burns BBC News education correspondent |
| University applications from UK students are down for the second year running, official figures show. | University applications from UK students are down for the second year running, official figures show. |
| Ucas admissions data from mid-December show applications from English students at their lowest since 2009. | Ucas admissions data from mid-December show applications from English students at their lowest since 2009. |
| The trebling of maximum tuition fees saw a drop in applications for autumn 2012 but university leaders hoped demand would recover in 2013. | The trebling of maximum tuition fees saw a drop in applications for autumn 2012 but university leaders hoped demand would recover in 2013. |
| A Ucas spokesman said it was too early to say whether overall applications would be down. | A Ucas spokesman said it was too early to say whether overall applications would be down. |
| The general deadline for applying to start university in autumn 2013 is 15 January, although people may apply later. | The general deadline for applying to start university in autumn 2013 is 15 January, although people may apply later. |
| These interim figures were collated by Ucas on 17 December, by which time some 265,730 people living in the UK had applied to start degree courses this autumn, down 6.3% on the same point in 2012. | These interim figures were collated by Ucas on 17 December, by which time some 265,730 people living in the UK had applied to start degree courses this autumn, down 6.3% on the same point in 2012. |
| Application slump | Application slump |
| Among students living in England, applications were down 6.5% on 2012 at 229,932. | Among students living in England, applications were down 6.5% on 2012 at 229,932. |
| The steepest drop in applications was from students living in Wales, down 11.7% to 11,218. Applications from Scottish students fell by 3.9% while there was a marginal increase in applications in Northern Ireland - up 0.5%. | The steepest drop in applications was from students living in Wales, down 11.7% to 11,218. Applications from Scottish students fell by 3.9% while there was a marginal increase in applications in Northern Ireland - up 0.5%. |
| Applications from EU based students dropped slightly - by 1.9% to 14,144, but applications from overseas students outside the EU were up slightly - by 0.8% at 23,987. | Applications from EU based students dropped slightly - by 1.9% to 14,144, but applications from overseas students outside the EU were up slightly - by 0.8% at 23,987. |
| Pam Tatlow, chief executive of university group Million+ said: "The worrying trend of falling university applications continues, according to the most recent statistics published by UCAS. | Pam Tatlow, chief executive of university group Million+ said: "The worrying trend of falling university applications continues, according to the most recent statistics published by UCAS. |
| "We urge the government to step in with a national campaign to promote the value of university for potential students currently considering their options, whether they are about to leave school or considering a university course later in life." | "We urge the government to step in with a national campaign to promote the value of university for potential students currently considering their options, whether they are about to leave school or considering a university course later in life." |
| The Ucas spokesman said the December sampling point was a few days before the end of term for many schools and suggested that many applications would have come in after that. | The Ucas spokesman said the December sampling point was a few days before the end of term for many schools and suggested that many applications would have come in after that. |
| He pointed out that in previous years up to 40% of applications have come in during the final month before the deadline. | He pointed out that in previous years up to 40% of applications have come in during the final month before the deadline. |
| Dr Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group of elite universities, agreed it was too early in the year to judge overall application figures. | |
| "Let's not jump the gun... It's only right that prospective students are taking their time deciding which universities to apply to and making use of all the information available to them." | |
| Applications to UK universities were at their highest in 2011 but dropped by 7.6% last year when the government increased tuition fees to up to £9,000 a year. | Applications to UK universities were at their highest in 2011 but dropped by 7.6% last year when the government increased tuition fees to up to £9,000 a year. |