Applications to universities in England hit record high
Number of people applying to English universities has reached all-time high.
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Thursday, 14, Feb 2008 08:12
The number of people applying to English universities has reached an all-time high, according to new figures.
Statistics published by the Universities and Colleges Application Service (Ucas) show that the number of applications has risen by seven per cent compared with this time in 2007, an increase of at least 20,700.
The figures also show that the amount of applicants from lower socioeconomic groups has risen from 28.2 per cent of under-18s last year to 28.9 per cent.
Bill Rammell, minister for lifelong learning, further and higher education, said the figures showed that critics of a government system to provide increased financial support to applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds were "emphatically wrong".
"We want to ensure that money is not a barrier to going to university which is why we have improved the financial support package, available for students starting university this September," he added.
"The extra support for students from low and middle income families and which rewards hardworking families that support their children, has undoubtedly helped to increase applications.
"Now, more students than ever before, indeed, two thirds of eligible new undergraduates, will be entitled to a non repayable maintenance grant of up to £2,835 a year.
While Universities UK, a representative body for the higher education sector, said the figures were "good news", the method of counting applications has been criticised by the University and College Union (UCU).
Sally Hunt, the UCU general secretary, welcomed the increase in applicants but said changes to the way applications were counted "must not be used to mask the lack of progress being made in attracting students from the poorest backgrounds to apply to university".
Ms Hunt called on Mr Rammell to acknowledge the "punitive funding regime" which reduces the number of applications from students with non-traditional backgrounds.
UCU claims that the incorporation of nursing and midwifery diploma courses (NMAS) into the main Ucas scheme has resulted in a superficial increase in application numbers, as thousands of people who would have applied solely through the NMAS programme have this year submitted their application through Ucas.