The number of people applying for a university place in the UK has dropped for the second year in a row.
Since tuition fees trebled to an average of £9,000 per year, applications have fallen. The first hit students took their places in autumn 2012, but it was hoped that the number of people applying for this year would have increased, but instead it has dropped again.
Ucas released mid-December figures showing a drop of 6.3 per cent in applications compared with the same point in 2011. Over 260,000 people have applied for a university place, but the Government is hoping for a last minute rush as people still have until the 15th January to apply.
A spokeswoman on behalf of the Government said: “It is too early to form a definitive picture about university applications for the 2013-14 academic year. Traditionally fewer than 50% of applicants have submitted their applications by this point in the cycle.”
Although the numbers are down, they could still beat pre-rise figures of 2009. In 2009 only 297,796 people applied for a university place, despite the fees being a third less than they are today. Ucas predicts that around a further 40,000 people will apply for places before the January deadline, giving them over 300,000 applicants.
Speaking of the slow applications, Sally Hunt, General Secretary for the University and College Union, 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.
“More must be done to encourage people to aspire to university and far greater efforts made to support them when they are there.”
Have you applied for a University place this year or are the fees just too high? Do you think the Government is doing enough to attract young people to apply for a degree course? Share your thoughts with us below.
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