Commenting on the undergraduate applicant stats released on Wednesday 28 November, UCAS Chief Executive Mary Curnock Cook said:
"Although the number of applicants to UK higher education is down by 8% on this time last year, experience tells us that changes at this point in the cycle are a poor guide to final demand.
For example, in the 2012 cycle the decrease in applicants in November was much greater than the final picture in January, possibly because applicants were making more considered decisions about their higher education choices after the tuition fee changes in 2012.
There is also a complex interplay of factors relating to the previous cycle which impact on the picture today. These include fewer unplaced applicants in 2012 and hence a smaller potential pool of re-applicants."