University applicant numbers slump as fees soar

The statistics published yesterday by Ucas suggest, however, the higher tuition fees have not had a significant impact on school leavers with the largest drop in applications coming from older age groups.

Around 50,000 fewer applicants have applied for university courses starting in September compared with the same point last year – a drop of 8.9 per cent.

In England, the numbers applying slumped by 10 per cent, a much bigger fall than in other areas of the United Kingdom not affected by higher fees. In Scotland and Wales the drop was less than three per cent.

Across Yorkshire there was an 8.3 per cent drop in the numbers applying for courses starting in 2012 with 39,924 compared with 43,541.

Nationally, among 18-year-olds, the numbers were down by just 2.6 per cent, while applications from 19-year-olds were down 12.1 per cent and those from 25 to 29-year-olds were down 12.2 per cent.

The drop in 19-year-olds applying could reflect the fall in the number of students who took a gap year in 2011.

People starting university last year escaped the fee increase which meant fewer students were prepared to take gap year and face fees of up to £9,000.

There has also been a 10.5 per cent drop in applications from 30 to 35-year-olds, while the numbers of people aged 40 and over was down 10.9 per cent.

Students starting university this autumn will be the first to pay up to £9,000 a year in tuition fees, with many English universities including five in Yorkshire: Bradford, Hull, Leeds, Sheffield and York, planning to charge the maximum.

Universities Minister David Willetts insisted that 2012 will still be a “competitive year” for students hoping to gain places.

But some union officials and university leaders raised concerns about the impact of the fees rise, with one warning the drop in applications from mature students could be damaging.

The latest figures, which give the numbers of people applying before the final June 30 deadline, come as a new Ucas report reveals the impact of the new fee regime.

It found that around one in 20 English 18-year-olds – about 15,000 in total – who might have been expected to apply for university this year did not.

The report also reveals that young people in disadvantaged areas were still almost three times less likely to apply to university than their richer peers.

Ucas chief executive Mary Curnock Cook said: “This in-depth analysis of the 2012 applications data shows that, although there has been a reduction in application rates where tuition fees have increased, there has not been a disproportionate effect on more disadvantaged groups.”

Those from poorer backgrounds are applying to courses that are around £200 cheaper on average than students from richer homes.

Mr Willetts said: “The proportion of English school leavers applying to university is the second highest on record and people are still applying. Last year 30,000 students applied after this point.

“Even with a small reduction in applications, this will still be a competitive year like any other as people continue to understand that university remains a good long-term investment for their future.”