This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20898941
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK university applications down for second year running | UK university applications down for second year running |
| (35 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 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." | "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." |
| University and College Union general secretary Sally Hunt said: "The bottom line is that hiking up the cost is likely to have an impact on people's decisions when it comes to further study. | |
| "We need our brightest people pursuing their dreams. We simply cannot afford to fall behind other countries that are seeing a rise in the number of students and graduates. More must be done to encourage people to aspire to university and far greater efforts made to support them when they are there." | |
| 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. |