More students ‘to be denied university places’

In total there were 647,008 applicants, up 9,235 from last year, according to new figures from Ucas.

While UK applications were up 0.8 per cent to 550,147, applications from other EU countries rose 5.8 per cent to 45,727 and applications from non-EU countries increased 4.9 per cent to 51,134.

Aaron Porter, NUS president, said: “Last year over a quarter of a million qualified and ambitious young people missed out on a deserved place at university. This year the Government has failed to add to the number of university places, withdrawing a small previously planned rise, meaning we are likely to see an increase in the numbers being denied a place. With so many students already missing out on university places, any decision to reduce the number available in order to cover the huge black hole in funding left by the Government’s rushed and incoherent policy-making would spell disaster for young people, universities and the economy.”