Today UCAS publishes statistics on all full-time undergraduate applications considered 'on time' for the 15 January deadline, giving the first reliable indication of demand for higher education (HE) in the UK this year.
- There is a 4% increase in the number of applicants (580,000) to HE courses compared to the same point last year. This is in spite of the continuing fall in the population of 18 year old population, which this year is around 1%.
- Taking account of population changes, application rates for 18 year olds across the whole of the UK are at, or near, their highest levels.
- An unprecedented 35% of 18 year olds from England have submitted a UCAS application this year.
- Young people from the most disadvantaged areas in England are now almost twice as likely to apply as they were in 2004, significantly closing the gap with those from the most advantaged areas over the last decade.
- Over 87,000 more women than men have applied, a difference that has increased by 7,000 this year. Young women are a third more likely to apply to higher education than young men.
- More applicants than ever are exercising all five of their choices, pushing the total number of applications to a record 2.5 million.
- Applications have increased to all types of institutions (high, medium and low Tariff), while the number of applicants aged 20 and over has increased by 5% (to 133,950).
Mary Curnock Cook, Chief Executive of UCAS said: “This analysis shows a remarkably persistent growth in demand for higher education from all demographic backgrounds and for institutions across the spectrum in the UK.
“Amid encouraging patterns of demand from mature and disadvantaged students, there remains a stubborn gap between male and female applicants which, on current trends, could eclipse the gap between rich and poor within a decade.
“Young men are becoming a disadvantaged group in terms of going to university and this underperformance needs urgent focus across the education sector.”
View all the statistical reports covering the 2014 January deadline figures
ENDS
Press Office contacts
UCAS Press Office: 01242 545 469
Notes to editors
Although 15 January is the 'equal consideration’ deadline, students can still apply for higher education courses starting in autumn 2014 up until 30 June, with those received later going into Clearing. In recent cycles around 85% of UK applicants had applied by this January deadline. This proportion is higher for 18 year old UK applicants (97%) and lower for international applicants (around 65%).