‘Shambolic’ Government reforms blamed for 9pc drop in university applications

Admissions service UCAS said the number of applicants has fallen nine per cent from 76,612 students at this stage last year to 69,724 for courses starting in 2012.

The applications are the first since the Government controversially allowed universities to charge tuition fees of up to £9,000. The Treasury has also announced a £2.9bn cut to the teaching budget over the next four years.

Unions representing students and lecturers claimed the figures were proof the policies were scaring off potential applicants.

National Union of Students vice-president Toni Pearce said: “The indication is that the confusion caused by the Government’s botched reforms is causing young people to, at the very least, hesitate before applying to university.

“Ministers must stop tinkering around the edges of their shambolic reforms, listen to students, teachers and universities, and completely overhaul their white paper before temporary chaos turns into permanent damage.”

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, which represents more than 120,000 academic staff in post-school education, said: “The Government’s fees policy has been a disaster from the start and it is clearly having a serious impact on the choices young people make.

“These depressing figures take us back to the time when it was cost, not ability, that determined your future.”

The figures were revealed following the October 15 deadline for applications to medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses and courses at Oxford and Cambridge. It also includes the number of students who have applied so far for other university courses, most of which have a January deadline.

Universities Minister David Willetts said: “It is too early in the applications cycle for data to reveal underlying trends.

“Going to university depends on ability, not the ability to pay. Most new students will not pay upfront, there will be financial support for those from poorer families and everyone will make lower loan repayments than they do now once they are in well-paid jobs.”

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