Increase in university applications dampens fears

The number of people applying to university in the United Kingdom this autumn has increased, figures from the university admissions service UCAS show, allaying fears of a collapse in numbers, writes Will Hazell for iNews.

A total of 514,020 people of all ages from across the UK had applied through UCAS by 30 June for a place on an undergraduate course – up 1.6% on the same point in 2019. Among UK 18-year-olds a record 40.5% have applied – the first time more than four out of 10 have applied by this point in the cycle. The equivalent figure last year was 38.9%. This means 281,980 young people have applied, increasing from 275,520 a year ago, despite a 1.5% fall in the 18-year-old population.

The buoyant figures appear to buck predictions that there could be a dramatic decline in student numbers this autumn. Vice-chancellors harbour fears that UK students may choose to defer their places to 2021 over worries that they will not receive a normal university experience if campuses are locked down because of COVID-19.
Full report on the iNews site