Latest UCAS figures show a 3.5% (-17,184) decrease in the number of students applying by 30 June to UK higher education courses starting in autumn 2006 with 469,731 individuals applying compared with 486,915 at the same point last year. In percentage terms, there is no significant overall change from the last figures issued on 27 April. The decrease should be placed in the context of the record increase of 8.2% at the same point last year.
The gender imbalance is more pronounced with men, continuing the trend of recent years, now accounting for less than 45% of those applying to higher education.
The number of applicants from countries within the EU* are up by 3.7% to 27,817 despite a decline of 14.7% (1,059) from the Republic of Ireland. From countries outside the EU, however, the numbers are down by 8.8% to 40,686 with China, Nigeria, Malaysia, Pakistan, Korea (Republic), Kenya, Japan and Zimbabwe all recording more than a 10% decline. Cross border applicants from England to Scotland are up by 1.7% to 29,867 and EU* to Scotland are up by 14.4% to 9,208.
Science subjects appear to be growing in popularity with Chemistry (+4.4%), Chemical Process and Energy Engineering (+7.9%), General Engineering (+4.9%), Mathematics (+11.6), Medical, Biological and Agricultural Science (+4.3%) and Physics (+1.9%) all receiving more applications than the same point last year.
Applications to foundation degrees are up by 21.5% to 40,136.
The trend for online activity continues to grow with 98.2% of applications being received online. This compares to 73.1% last year and 48.8% at the same point two years ago.
"UCAS aims to move to 100% electronic transactions and this is clearly supported by the vast majority of applicants, which is encouraging," said Anthony McClaran, UCAS chief executive. "Schools and colleges have got firmly behind the online move and we are grateful for their support," he said.
UCAS is the organisation responsible for managing applications to UK higher education courses. |
