Official figures have shown that University applications have dropped for the second year running.
It had been hoped by University leaders that applications would rise after last years fall as a cause of the increased tuition fees, however this has been shown to not be the case.
When the figures were taken by UCAS on December 17, the applications were down by 6.3% compared to the same point in 2012.
While applications from England were down 6.3% on last year, Wales applicants were down 11.7% whereas Scottish applications were only down by 3.9%. Northern Ireland saw a slight increase in their applications by 0.5%.
Although these figures have been published, it has been stressed by the UCAS spokesman that they were expecting more applications after Christmas, with up to 40% of applications coming in in previous years the month before the deadline.
Pam Tatlow, chief executive of University group Million + has said that “we urge the government to step in with a national campaign to promote the value of University for potential students currently considering their options, whether they are about to leave school or considering a university course later in life.”
Nicola Dandridge of Universities UK has expressed the general concern regarding graduate contributions when she stated that “we must be concerned about any drops in the numbers applying to university and in particular, we must look closely at how the increase in graduate contributions in England may be affecting the decisions of prospective students.”
The continual drop in applications is once again being blamed on the rise in tuition fees. However, a government spokesperson has stated that: “It is important that no one is put off applying to university because they do not have information about the student support available to them. Most new students will not pay upfront, there will be more 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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