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Final figures for 2008 entry - 10.4% rise in accepted applicants

The number of full-time students accepted on to undergraduate courses starting in 2008 rose by 10.4%, according to end of year data released by UCAS. A record 43,197 more students were accepted in 2008, taking the total from 413,430 in 2007 to 456,627.

The graph below shows applicant and accepted applicant trends over the last decade.

UCAS applicants and acceptances 1996-2008

2008 figures include applicants who applied to ex-NMAS courses. 14,184 applicants are currently placed in such courses. Acceptances are +7.0% if acceptances to ex-NMAS courses are excluded from 2008 figures.

Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive of UCAS, said: "These figures make 2008 a record breaking year in terms of both those applying and those being accepted to full-time higher education courses. The increase in both applicants and acceptances is particularly strong in England, but all parts of the UK saw higher numbers."

There was a rise of 5.6% in overseas accepted applicants, with Romania (140.5%), Bulgaria (109.4%), Singapore (32.2%) and China (21%) seeing the biggest rises.

Table 1 - Applicants and acceptances by gender (all domiciles)

Year Applicants Accepted Applicants
MaleFemale TotalMaleFemale Total
 2008  259,878  328,811   588,689  204,695  251,932  456,627 
 2007  240,904  293,591   534,495  189,685  223,745  413,430 
 % change  7.9%  12.0%   10.1%  7.9%  12.6%  10.4% 


Table 2 - Applicants and acceptances by age (all domiciles)

Year Applicants Accepted Applicants
20 and under21 to 24 25 and overTotal20 and under 21 to 2425 and overTotal
 2008  432,600  78,803   77,286  588,689  350,263  54,921   51,443  456,627 
 2007  401,016  69,412   64,067  534,495  323,220  47,949   42,261  413,430 
 % change  7.9%  13.5%   20.6%  10.1%  8.4%  14.5%  21.7%   10.4% 


Table 3 - Accepted applicants (all domiciles) by age and gender

YearMale FemaleTotal
 20 years and under  2008  158,806  191,457  350,263 
 2007  148,508  174,712   323,220 
 % change 6.9%   9.6%  8.4% 
 21 to 24 years  2008  26,968  27,953  54,921 
 2007  24,270  23,679   47,949 
 % change 11.1%   18.0%  14.5% 
 25 years and over  2008  18,921  32,522  51,443 
 2007  16,907  25,354   42,261 
 % change 11.9%   28.3%  21.7% 
 Total  2008  204,695  251,932  456,627 
 2007  189,685  223,745   413,430 
 % change 7.9%   12.6%  10.4% 


Table 4 - Accepted applicants (UK domiciled) by age and gender

YearFemale MaleTotal
 20 years and under   2008  172,925  141,643  314,568 
 2007  157,848  132,699   290,547 
 % change 9.6%   6.7%  8.3% 
 21 to 24 years  2008  22,851  20,389  43,240 
 2007  18,508  17,826   36,334 
 % change 23.5%   14.4%  19.0% 
 25 years and over  2008  30,893  16,323  47,216 
 2007  23,678  13,985   37,663 
 % change 30.5%   16.7%  25.4% 
 Total  2008  226,669  178,355  405,024 
 2007  200,034  164,510   364,544 
 % change 13.3%   8.4%  11.1% 


Table 5 - Accepted applicants (UK domicile only) by age group and UK country of residence


 Country of residence
EnglandWales ScotlandNorthern IrelandTotal
 20 years and under   2008  266,893  14,351  21,873   11,451  314,568 
 2007  245,120  13,592   20,663  11,172  290,547 
 % change 8.9%   5.6%  5.9%  2.5%  8.3% 
 21 to 24 years  2008  36,307  1,992  3,727   1,214  43,240 
 2007  30,234  1,713   3,275  1,112  36,334 
 % change 20.1%   16.3%  13.8%  9.2%  19.0% 
 25 years and over  2008  40,408  2,252  3,791   765  47,216 
 2007  31,605  2,061   3,280  717  37,663 
 % change 27.9%   9.3%  15.6%  6.7%  25.4% 
 Total  2008  343,608  18,595  29,391   13,430  405,024 
 2007  306,959  17,366   27,218  13,001  364,544 
 % change 11.9%   7.1%  8.0%  3.3%  11.1% 


Table 6 - Accepted applicants (all domiciles) by area of permanent residence and country of accepting institution

Area of Permanent Residence Country of institution Total
EnglandWales ScotlandNorthern Ireland
 England   2008   330,400  8,481   4,453  274  343,608 
 2007   294,533   8,483  3,814  129  306,959 
 % change   12.2%  0.0%  16.8%  112.4%  11.9% 
 Wales  2008   5,491  12,982   112  10  18,595 
 2007   5,306   11,945  108  7  17,366 
 % change   3.5%  8.7%  3.7%  42.9%  7.1% 
 Scotland  2008   1,774  67   27,528  22  29,391 
 2007   1,754   44  25,395  25  27,218 
 % change   1.1%  52.3%  8.4%  -12.0%  8.0% 
 Northern Ireland  2008   3,214  109   1,097  9,010  13,430 
 2007   3,203   101  1,114  8,583  13,001 
 % change   0.3%  7.9%  -1.5%  5.0%  3.3% 
 Rep. of Ireland  2008   1,286  196  714   413  2,609 
 2007   1,215   185  701  471  2,572 
 % change   5.8%  5.9%  1.9%  -12.3%  1.4% 
 Other EU  2008   14,909  635   3,181  29  18,754 
 2007   14,793   594  2,686  16  18,089 
 % change   0.8%  6.9%  18.4%  81.3%  3.7% 
 Non EU  2008   25,472  1,169   3,533  66  30,240 
 2007   24,377   1,136  2,657  55  28,225 
 % change   4.5%  2.9%  33.0%  20.0%  7.1% 
 Total  2008   382,546  23,639   40,618  9,824  456,627 
 2007   345,181   22,488  36,475  9,286  413,430 
 % change   10.8%  5.1%  11.4%  5.8%  10.4% 


Table 7 - Accepted applicants from overseas domiciled applicants by country of domicile - countries with 600 or more acceptances in the 2008 cycle

 Country  2008   2007  Percent change 
 China 6,120  5,058   21.0% 
 France 2,703  2,559   5.6% 
 Hong Kong 2,615   2,546  2.7% 
 Ireland 2,609  2,572   1.4% 
 Cyprus 2,305  2,593   -11.1% 
 Germany 2,276  2,226   2.2% 
 Malaysia 2,016   1,942  3.8% 
 Nigeria 1,681  1,913   -12.1% 
 India 1,674  1,506   11.2% 
 Greece 1,652  1,632   1.2% 
 Poland 1,522  1,973   -22.9% 
 Pakistan 1,307   1,384  -5.6% 
 United States of America   1,191  1,179  1.0% 
 Singapore 968  732   32.2% 
 Bulgaria 823  393   109.4% 
 Canada 791  645   22.6% 
 Sweden 777  727   6.9% 
 Norway 769  652   17.9% 
 Spain 724  752   -3.7% 
 Italy 691  646   7.0% 
 Lithuania 682  572   19.2% 
 Sri Lanka 637  708   -10.0% 
 Romania 630  262   140.5% 
 All overseas  51,603  48,886  5.6% 


Table 8 - Accepted applicants by Subject

Joint Academic Coding System (JACS 2) Subject Line  Degree 2008  Percent change   Found. degree 2008  Percent change   Other 2008  Percent change 
 M1 - Law by Area 17,042   6.5%  31 
 24 
 W2 - Design studies 15,902   5.3%  1,706  2.5%  433  -19.8% 
 C8 - Psychology 14,833   7.3%  46 
 19 
 N2 - Management studies  11,142  13.0%  387 
 938   7.2% 
 G4 - Computer Science 10,707   6.4%  990  7.0%  780  -6.4% 
 N1 - Business studies 10,575   -2.5%  536  15.3%  631  11.1% 
 Q3 - English studies 9,839   6.0%  11 
 17 
 NN - Combinations within Business & Admin Studies  9,306  21.9%  365 
 263 
 C6 - Sports Science 8,885   3.8%  924  3.8%  462 
 V1 - History by Period 8,082   8.7%  2 
 13 
 A1 - Pre-clinical Medicine  8,013  2.2% 
 Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with arts/humanities  7,991  4.9%  694  40.5%  161 
 X1 - Training Teachers 7,605   5.6%  326 
 50 
 Y Combs of languages with arts/humanities 7,457   3.5% 

 17 
 L5 - Social Work 7,395   7.4%  1,005  17.5%  1,774  13.4% 
 B7 - Nursing 7,185   13.3%  337 
 14,308  9190.9% 
 L1 - Economics 6,875   19.8% 



 N8 - Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism and Transport  6,786  18.4%  1,128  15.7%  708   -15.3% 
 B9 - Others in Subjects allied to Medicine  6,531  5.4%  272 
 683   46.3% 
 G1 - Mathematics 6,403   7.8% 



 N4 - Accounting 6,242   6.2%  61 
 119 
 W4 - Drama 6,115   3.4%  621  15.4%  349 
 Y Combs of science/engineering with social studies/bus/law  6,077  10.0%  418 
 89 
 Y Combs of science/engineering with arts/humanities/languages  5,865  8.5%  1,133  22.4%  158 
 W6 - Cinematics and Photography  5,824  7.3%  855  11.8%  327 
 X3 - Academic studies in Education  5,792  12.2%  822  25.3%  182 
 Z Combs of 3 subjects, or other general courses  5,289  -7.6%  9 
 47 
 H3 - Mechanical Engineering  5,161  12.4%  251 
 161 
 L2 - Politics 4,778   10.2% 

 16 
 P3 - Media studies 4,771   -0.5%  350 
 75 
 L3 - Sociology 4,663   6.4%  12 
 124 
 C1 - Biology 4,575   3.3%  36 
 17 
 W1 - Fine Art 4,553   1.3%  244 
 77 
 H6 - Electronic and Electrical Engineering  4,475  -2.7%  55 
 280 
 W3 - Music 4,391   1.8%  628  8.1%  220 
 H2 - Civil Engineering 4,333   15.4%  97 
 145 
 K1 - Architecture 4,198   11.4%  29 
 20 
 B2 - Pharmacology,Toxicology and Pharmacy 4,067   2.8%  38 
 17 
 F1 - Chemistry 4,009   4.5%  20 
 3 
 Y Combs of phys/math science with social studies/bus/law  3,860  8.2%  100 
 22 
 N5 - Marketing 3,713   9.7%  118 
 58 
 K2 - Building 3,661   11.4%  256 
 548  5.8% 
 Y Combs of arts/humanities  3,639  2.2%  140 
 34 
 Y Combs of soc studies/law with business 3,498   12.4%  34 
 5 
 F3 - Physics 3,320   3.2%  10 


 F8 - Physical Geographical Sciences  3,283  4.9%  5 
 9 
 B1 - Anatomy,Physiology and Pathology  3,229  -6.6% 

 43 
 H1 - General Engineering  3,175  6.6%  15 
 63 
 WW - Combinations within Creative Arts and Design  3,042  10.1%  520  39.0%  70 
 G5 - Information Systems  3,019  6.8%  296 
 241 
 Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with languages  2,866  -0.9% 

 1 
 L7 - Human and Social Geography  2,757  7.9% 

 1 
 Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences  2,708  11.6%  199 
 37 
 LL - Combinations within Social Studies  2,672  7.1%  42 
 31 
 M9 - Others in Law 2,377   17.3%  63 
 64 
 C7 - Molecular Biology,Biophysics & Biochem  2,347  6.2% 

 21 
 P5 - Journalism 2,308   12.5%  109 
 7 
 Y Combs of soc studies/law  2,183  3.7%  38 
 4 
 Y Combs of phys/math science with arts/humanities/languages  2,177  4.2%  144 
 106 
 GG - Combinations within Mathematical & Computer Sci  1,868  13.8%  99 
 13 
 RR - Combinations within European Langs,Lit and related  1,755  4.3% 
 B8 - Medical Technology 1,749   10.4%  31 


 H4 - Aerospace Engineering  1,701  2.4%  208 
 37 
 Y Combs of languages 1,692   10.6% 



 F4 - Forensic and Archaeological Science 1,667   -3.1%  103 
 81 
 H8 - Chemical,Process and Energy Engineering  1,640  12.7% 

 12 
 J9 - Others in Technology  1,557  13.1%  375 
 123 
 Y Combs of sciences with engineering/technology  1,497  0.5%  95 
 42 
 N3 - Finance 1,442   13.6%  6 
 16 
 V5 - Philosophy 1,415   -1.2% 

 1 
 G6 - Software Engineering  1,410  14.6%  141 
 54 
 Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences with phys/math sciences  1,404  -3.2%  74 
 26 
 F7 - Science of Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments  1,402  10.9%  55 
 31 
 F6 - Geology 1,382   0.4% 

 4 
 B3 - Complementary Medicine  1,354  6.7%  278 
 109 
 VV - Combinations within Hist & Philosophical studies  1,349  10.8%  15 
 3 
 V3 - History by Topic 1,328   11.2% 

 6 
 V6 - Theology and Religious studies  1,326  9.1%  27 
 15 
 C3 - Zoology 1,218   11.4%  63 
 8 
 A2 - Pre-clinical Dentistry  1,209  0.8% 
 PP - Combinations within Mass Comms & Documentation  1,147  12.7%  43 
 22 
 M2 - Law by Topic 1,140   -4.0%  101 


 B4 - Nutrition 1,112   1.8% 

 11 
 K4 - Planning (Urban,Rural and Regional) 1,061   -3.6%  11 
 68 
 W5 - Dance 1,035   17.9%  88 
 54 
 D3 - Animal Science 950   6.9%  713  55.7%  147 
 D1 - Pre-clinical Veterinary Medicine  943  -7.0% 
 R9 - Others in European Langs,Lit and related  915  3.2% 
 B6 - Aural and Oral Sciences  909  3.3% 
 Q8 - Classical studies 879   -0.8% 

 1 
 L4 - Social Policy 878   -0.1%  290 
 58 
 C9 - Others in Biological Sciences  858  33.4%  38 
 4 
 P9 - Others in Mass Comms & Documentation 853   18.1%  34 


 R1 - French studies 775   11.4% 



 Y Combs of phys/math sciences  770  14.9%  2 
 13 
 B5 - Ophthalmics 762   0.5%  46 


 N6 - Human Resource Management  749  11.3%  1 
 8 
 H7 - Production and Manufacturing Engineering  748  -2.9% 

 6 
 L6 - Anthropology 697   2.8% 



 D4 - Agriculture 683   0.3%  635  13.4%  248 
 Q1 - Linguistics 657   9.1%  8 


 QQ - Combinations within Linguistics,Classics & related  631  2.3% 
 W8 - Imaginative Writing 615   5.9%  4 
 8 
 L9 - Others in Social Studies  610  23.2%  49 
 15 
 FF - Combinations within Physical Sciences 564   19.2% 



 T7 - American studies 554   6.9% 



 N9 - Others in Business & Admin Studies  551  -7.4%  2 
 W7 - Crafts 549   -3.3%  143 
 19 
 HH - Combinations within Engineering  543  -10.8%  61 
 11 
 V4 - Archaeology 533   3.3%  25 


 P2 - Publicity studies471 



 T9 - Others in non-European Langs & related 463   -35.1% 



 C4 - Genetics450 



 W9 - Others in Creative Arts and Design  450 
 207 


 CC - Combinations within Biological Sciences 401 
 L0 - Social Studies: any area of study  400 


 4 
 R4 - Spanish studies391 



 F9 - Others in Physical Sciences366 




 C5 - Microbiology354 



 MM - Combinations within Law  342 
 9 
 3 
 J4 - Polymers and Textiles305 




 Y Combs of engineering/technology294 




 R2 - German studies279 



 D6 - Food and Beverage studies  255 
 93 
 16 
 KK - Combinations within Architecture,Build & Plan  233 
 19 
 2 
 R8 - European studies226 



 V9 - Others in Hist & Philosophical studies 215 
 J5 - Materials Technology not otherwise spec  213 
 17 


 BB - Combinations within Subjects allied to Medicine  202 
 2 


 H5 - Naval Architecture 199 
 10 


 XX - Combinations within Education  194 
 190 


 T2 - Japanese studies168 



 G3 - Statistics166 



 K3 - Landscape Design 164 
 43 
 2 
 P1 - Information Services156 



 Y Combs of engin/tech/building studies  151 
 8 


 W0 - Creative Arts & Design: any area139 




 J6 - Maritime Technology 138 
 29 


 T1 - Chinese studies130 



 H0 - Engineering: any area of study127 




 Q2 - Comparative Literary studies127 




 T6 - Modern Middle-Eastern studies  125 
 1 


 Q9 - Others in Linguistics,Classics & related 124 
 R0 - European Langs,Lit & related: any area 124 
 F5 - Astronomy122 



 G0 - Mathematical & Comp Sci: any area117 




 J7 - Biotechnology115 



 V2 - History by Area109 



 Q5 - Celtic studies 108 


 23 
 R7 - Russian and East European studies89 




 P4 - Publishing 86 
 24 


 G2 - Operational Research 83 


 1 
 F0 - Physical Sciences: any area of study 80 
 R3 - Italian studies80 



 J1 - Minerals Technology60 



 G7 - Artificial Intelligence  56 
 5 


 DD - Combinations within Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects  48 


 1 
 X9 - Others in Education 45 
 211 
 2 
 T3 - South Asian studies44 



 X2 - Research and Study Skills in Education 39 
 TT - Combinations within non-European Langs & related 37 
 D5 - Forestry 36 
  73 
 30 
 D9 - Others in Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects 36 
 T5 - African studies28 



 J2 - Metallurgy27 



 D7 - Agricultural Sciences 23 
 5 
 13 
 G9 - Others in Mathematical & Computer Sci 23 
 C2 - Botany22 


 C0 - Biological Sciences: any area of study 17 
 N7 - Office Skills 17 
 9 


 R6 - Scandinavian studies17 



 Q4 - Ancient Language studies16 




 N0 - Business & Admin studies: any area15 




 Q6 - Latin studies13 



 A9 - Others in Medicine and Dentistry  12 


 24 
 K9 - Others in Architecture,Build & Plan 11 
 JJ - Combinations within Technology9 




 T4 - Other Asian studies8 



 F2 - Materials Science7 



 K0 - Architecture,Build & Plan: any area7 




 H9 - Others in Engineering5 



 Q7 - Classical Greek studies2 




 Grand Total  408,813  6.6%  21,347   17.3%  26,467  126.3% 

Note that foundation year courses are accounted for as degree. 'Other' includes HND, HNC, Certificates of H.E., Diplomas of H.E. (including those in social work, midwifery and nursing) and some postgraduate courses in social work.

Percentage change is not shown if both the number of 2008 choices AND the number of 2007 choices is less than 500.

The large increase in subject line B7 nursing - "Other" is largely attributed to the incorporation of the admissions service for nursing and midwifery diploma courses, NMAS, into the main UCAS scheme. As a result the 2008 figures in this table includes 10,833 acceptances to courses previously available through NMAS.

Foundation year courses are accounted for as Degree. 'Other' includes HND, HNC, Certificates of HE, Diplomas of HE (including those in social work, midwifery and nursing) and some postgraduate courses in social work.

From 2008 the subject lines reported incorporate recent adjustments made to the Joint Academic Coding System and are now specified on the basis of JACS 2. In addition, subject lines that have previously been reported have been reassessed and altered.

Where changes in subject line have occurred the figures for both 2008 and 2007 have been recalculated so that comparisons are made on a like for like basis. For reporting purposes, the subject lines most affected by JACS 2 changes are:

C2 - Botany
C5 - Microbiology
F7 - Science of Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments



Table 9 - Accepted applicants aged 18 years and under with an area of permanent residence within the UK by entry cycle, simplified version of the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC) and country of residence


 Home country of applicant
EnglandWales ScotlandNorthern IrelandTotal
 1. Higher managerial and professional occupations  2008  34,211  1,533  3,895   944  40,583 
 2007  33,310  1,602   3,844  838  39,594 
 % change  2.70%  -4.31%   1.33%  12.65%  2.50% 
 2. Lower managerial and professional occupations  2008  42,256  2,444  4,488   1,719  50,907 
 2007  39,954  2,324   4,417  1,767  48,462 
 % change  5.76%  5.16%   1.61%  -2.72%  5.05% 
 3. Intermediate occupations  2008  18,448  967  1,860   1,040  22,315 
 2007  17,152  1,041   1,781  995  20,969 
 % change  7.56%  -7.11%   4.44%  4.52%  6.42% 
 4. Small employers and own account workers  2008  10,206  664  983   746  12,599 
 2007  9,451  623   1,045  770  11,889 
 % change  7.99%  6.58%   -5.93%  -3.12%  5.97% 
 5. Lower supervisory and technical occupations  2008  6,466  397  641  318   7,822 
 2007  6,063  417   730  351  7,561 
 % change  6.65%  -4.80%   -12.19%  -9.40%  3.45% 
 6. Semi-routine occupations  2008  15,815  862  1,494   608  18,779 
 2007  13,721  783   1,402  588  16,494 
 % change  15.26%  10.09%   6.56%  3.40%  13.85% 
 7. Routine occupations  2008  6,585  486  570  383   8,024 
 2007  5,974  468   536  365  7,343 
 % change  10.23%  3.85%   6.34%  4.93%  9.27% 
 8. Not Classified - Unknown  2008  27,208  1,783  3,322   893  33,206 
 2007  24,324  1,432   2,507  872  29,135 
 % change  11.86%  24.51%   32.51%  2.41%  13.97% 
 Total  2008  161,195  9,136  17,253   6,651  194,235 
 2007  149,949  8,690   16,262  6,546  181,447 
 % change  7.50%  5.13%   6.09%  1.60%  7.05% 


Media contacts
Darren Barker, Communications Officer
tel: 01242 545723
email: communications@ucas.ac.uk
Out of hours: 07768 740 461

Notes to editors

  • UCAS is the organisation responsible for managing applications to UK higher education courses.
  • A UCAS spokesperson is available for interview.
  • The figures cited within this press release are for the close of file for 2008 entry, ie - for applicants who commenced courses in autumn 2008. Please note that a proportion of applicants will defer entry to 2009. Data on this will be available later in the year.
  • Latest figures for the current 2009 cycle will be issued in February.

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