UCAS: university applications reach record high

Some 583,500 people submitted applications by the end of January as demand for degree courses soared by more than five per cent this year.

Numbers have been swelled by rising demand among students aged 19 to 21, suggesting many are reapplying after being rejected in previous years.

Applications from students living in European Union member states, who are eligible for the same subsidised loans as their British peers, have also soared by 17 per cent, it was revealed.

The rise – in figures published by the Universities and College Admissions Service (Ucas) – comes amid claims that more students are pushing for higher education places this autumn before a near tripling of fees a year later. MPs voted in December to raise the cap on fees from £3,290 to £9,000 in 2012.

Experts warned that the rise was likely to lead to more students missing out on courses following a Government decision to freeze places at last year’s levels.

Prof Les Ebdon, vice-chancellor of Bedfordshire University and chairman of the higher education think-tank Million Plus, said: “Just a few days ago, it was confirmed that 210,222 would-be students missed out on a university place in 2010.

“These latest figures on applications show that even more students are hoping to get to university in 2011 but they will be fighting over exactly the same number of places.

“Ministers may be right to say that getting to university should not be easy but they are wrong to allow nearly one in three students to miss out on university.”

But other university leaders criticised such comments for spreading "speculation and panic".

David Willetts, the Universities Minister, said students should consider alternatives to traditional degree courses such as apprenticeships.

"Going to university has always been a competitive process and not all who apply are accepted,” he said.

“Despite this we do understand how frustrating it is for young people who wish to go to university and are unable to find a place.

“We are opening up other routes into a successful career. Our reforms will make part-time university study more accessible and we are also investing in new apprenticeship places, with an additional 75,000 being created by 2014."

Gareth Thomas, the shadow universities minister, said Labour planned to offer 20,000 more higher education places in 2010 and 2011 - twice the number now pledged by the Coalition.

"These figures are the inevitable result of the Government's unfair and unnecessary decisions to treble tuition fees and cut student places by 10,000," he said. "Broken promises by [Business Secretary] Vince Cable and David Willetts will now lead to many more would be students not going to university."

Figures show that 583,501 people applied to university by the end of January – a 28,062 increase on the same point in 2010.

Applications among current sixth-formers are barely up on last year but figures show a huge spike in interest among older candidates.

Demand from 19-year-olds is up by nine per cent, while applications are up by 12.4 per cent among 20-year-olds and 15.3 per cent among those aged 21. It suggests many are reapplying after being rejected in previous years or cutting short time in the workplace to beat the tuition fees hike.

Applications from other EU member states are up by almost 6,000 to 40,790 this year, figures show. But fewer students from Eire submitted applications this year, perhaps reflecting the country’s economic problems.

Demand for courses allied to medicine, such as nursing, midwifery, pathology and radiography, soared by almost a fifth this year, it was disclosed, quicker than any other subject area.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, which represents vice-chancellor, said: “As always, competition for places is likely to be strong.

“However, speculation and panic benefits no-one; there is still a good chance of securing a place at university.

“It is essential that applicants receive high-quality, targeted information, advice and guidance following the outcome of their applications and should also be sure to apply early for student support.” Telegraph