University applicants urged to consider apprenticeships

By Nick Collins

Mary Curnock Cook, chief executive of the University and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas), said the unprecedented squeeze on places at universities meant swathes of sixth formers would need to look at "alternatives".

Her comments could signal a shift in policy to a system with fewer university places and an increased focus on skills-based training for school leavers.

Competition for university places this year is tighter than ever, with sixth formers joined in the admissions scrap by more than 45,000 people who were rejected last year and more applications from mature students than ever before.

In an interview with The Independent, Ms Curnock Cook said: "There won't be an open-ended number of places so there will be disappointed applicants.

"I think they may have to look at a range of alternatives. These include reapplying next year if that's the right thing for them – or taking up apprenticeships, which the government is quite keen on."

Applications from over-40s have increased 23.3 per cent on last year, rising from 14,689 to 18,105, with overall applications up by 11.9 per cent.

Up to a quarter of a million applicants are expected to fail in their quest for places this summer.

Ms Curnock Cook said: "With the older students I think it is about the recession and the pressure on them to get skills for jobs or retraining if they're made redundant." Telegraph