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Continued rise in university applicants

The latest figures from UCAS show a continued rise in the number of university applicants.

As of 15 January, the date by which applicants should apply to be given equal consideration, there were 464,167 people applying for a full-time undergraduate course at UK universities and colleges a rise of 7.8% or 33,678.

Anthony McClaran, UCAS Chief Executive said: "These figures represent the third year of strong and continuous growth in full-time undergraduate applications. There has been considerable speculation about the effect of current economic conditions on applications for higher education but these figures give some assurance that demand remains strong. Education is a long-term investment for the individual and for society as a whole."

One pattern is particularly clear: across the UK, there is a pronounced increase in mature applicants with the 21-24 age group showing a rise of 12.9% and an increase of 12.6% from applicants over the age of 24."

Law remains the top subject choice with nursing degrees entering the top-five due to an increase of 15.8% or 7,424 applicants. Nursing Diploma courses saw an increase of 15.1% or 5,389 applicants.

International recruitment continues to rise with an overall increase of 11.2% from all non-UK countries and over 10% increases from The Republic of Ireland, Cyprus, Singapore, France, Greece, Pakistan and India. China remains the largest provider of non-EU applicants with 3,641 - a rise of 7.5%.

Media contacts

Chris Dry, Head of Communications
tel: 01242 544677

Darren Barker, Communications Officer
tel: 01242 545723

email: communications@ucas.ac.uk
Out of hours: 07768 740 461

Table 1 - The number of applicants by 15 January; by entry cycle and gender

Year Female Male Total
2009260,863203,304 464,167
2008244,167186,322 430,489
% change6.8% 9.1%7.8%


Table 2 - Applicants by declared Area of Permanent Residence

YearEngland WalesScotlandNorthern Ireland Rep. of IrelandOther EUNon EU Total
2009345,10618,328 29,54915,9394,87121,857 28,517464,167
2008320,46916,946 28,10815,3024,31219,181 26,171430,489
% change7.7% 8.2%5.1%4.2%13.0%14.0% 9.0%7.8%


Table 3 - Applicants by age and declared area of permanent residence


 Area of Permanent Residence
UKOther EU Non EUTotal
20 years and under 2009339,11721,78923,076 383,982
2008318,92218,868 21,029358,819
% change6.3% 15.5%9.7%7.0%
21 to 24 years 200934,5863,8223,636 42,044
200830,6343,497 3,32137,452
% change12.9% 9.3%9.5%12.3%
25 years and over 200935,2191,1171,805 38,141
200831,2691,128 1,82134,218
% change12.6% -1.0%-0.9%11.5%
Total 2009408,92226,72828,517 464,167
2008380,82523,493 26,171430,489
% change7.4% 13.8%9.0%7.8%


Table 4 - Applicants by age and UK country of permanent residence


 Country of residence
EnglandWales ScotlandNorthern IrelandTotal
20 years and under 2009286,23914,99824,172 13,708339,117
2008268,51813,992 23,28213,130318,922
% change6.6% 7.2%3.8%4.4%6.3%
21 to 24 years 200928,8611,5982,815 1,31234,586
200825,3721,440 2,5491,27330,634
% change13.8% 11.0%10.4%3.1%12.9%
25 years and over 200930,0061,7322,562 91935,219
200826,5791,514 2,27789931,269
% change12.9% 14.4%12.5%2.2%12.6%
Total 2009345,10618,32829,549 15,939408,922
2008320,46916,946 28,10815,302380,825
% change7.7% 8.2%5.1%4.2%7.4%


Table 5 Applicants by declared area of permanent residence and country of institution

Area of permanent residence Country of institution
EnglandWales ScotlandNorthern Ireland
England 2009344,22535,20229,366 1,343
2008319,66532,911 28,4531,145
% change7.7% 7.0%3.2%17.3%
Wales 200911,59615,481877 76
200810,82514,242 89064
% change7.1% 8.7%-1.5%18.8%
Scotland 20094,20928028,790 136
20084,035252 27,354138
% change4.3% 11.1%5.2%-1.4%
Northern Ireland 20098,5658154,962 13,861
20088,313768 4,96413,203
% change3.0% 6.1%0.0%5.0%
Rep. of Ireland 20093,4459082,513 1,562
20083,091882 2,2641,369
% change11.5% 2.9%11.0%14.1%
Other EU 200920,4941,9936,863 135
200818,1051,687 5,941132
% change13.2% 18.1%15.5%2.3%
Non EU 200927,7802,6526,345 333
200825,4162,570 5,565296
% change9.3% 3.2%14.0%12.5%
Total 2009420,31457,33179,716 17,446
2008389,45053,312 75,43116,347
% change7.9% 7.5%5.7%6.7%

Table Notes:

An applicant has a maximum count of 1 to each 'country of institution'. If an applicant's choices include multiple countries then the applicant is counted once within each 'country of institution' present.



Table 6 - Applicants by overseas (including non-UK EU) country (> 600 applicants only)

Country2009 2008Percent change
Ireland4,8714,312 13.0%
China3,6413,386 7.5%
Hong Kong2,730 2,7110.7%
Germany2,6702,472 8.0%
Cyprus2,6642,277 17.0%
Singapore2,018 1,65721.8%
France2,0011,749 14.4%
United States of America 1,9261,8722.9%
Malaysia1,858 1,7724.9%
Poland1,5661,734 -9.7%
Greece1,4911,342 11.1%
Pakistan1,463 1,29513.0%
India1,3381,155 15.8%
Bulgaria1,336845 58.1%
Canada1,2011,136 5.7%
Italy1,160958 21.1%
Sweden1,1351,058 7.3%
Lithuania1,061871 21.8%
Nigeria964946 1.9%
Spain897803 11.7%
Romania818474 72.6%
Belgium768667 15.1%
Korea (South)642 53320.5%
Switzerland639527 21.3%
Norway630661 -4.7%
All overseas55,245 49,66411.2%


Table 7 - The number of Choices by January 15 by JACS 2 subject line and course type (degree, foundation degree and other)

Joint Academic Coding System (JACS 2) Subject Line Degree 2009Percent change Found. degree 2009Percent change Other 2009Percent change
M1 - Law by Area78,581 1.4%51
36
C8 - Psychology73,317 4.3%47
45
A1 - Pre-clinical Medicine 71,4301.5%
B7 - Nursing54,475 15.8%3,38418.9%41,124 15.1%
Q3 - English studies53,614 6.7%17
22
N2 - Management studies 50,6432.4%6212.5%1,529 -4.9%
NN - Combinations within Business & Admin Studies 47,48310.9%797-11.5%624 -2.3%
X1 - Training Teachers45,499 3.7%253
14
V1 - History by Period45,057 7.5%1
12
L1 - Economics44,750 15.7%



N1 - Business studies43,970 5.7%98527.9%859-2.3%
C6 - Sports Science41,278 5.2%2,10623.0%588-15.4%
W2 - Design studies40,782 11.5%2,1107.1%365
W4 - Drama39,936 8.1%1,79255.6%6861.3%
G4 - Computer Science39,747 8.6%1,467-4.6%1,048-4.3%
Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with arts/humanities 39,6699.1%1,102-5.4%157
L5 - Social Work36,969 0.7%8796.0%6,5560.5%
Y Combs of languages with arts/humanities 35,9815.6%

53
G1 - Mathematics35,248 10.4%

1
Y Combs of science/engineering with arts/humanities/languages 29,74718.7%2,91219.0%199
B9 - Others in Subjects allied to Medicine 26,3237.6%309
1,694 65.1%
N8 - Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism and Transport 26,16616.9%2,11619.1% 1,405-10.1%
H3 - Mechanical Engineering 25,99319.5%60735.2%114
L2 - Politics25,807 16.7%1
19
N4 - Accounting25,692 6.5%133
103
K1 - Architecture24,126 6.7%40
15
Y Combs of science/engineering with social studies/bus/law 22,813-1.4%72726.9%169
B2 - Pharmacology,Toxicology and Pharmacy 22,2490.2%81
30
W6 - Cinematics and Photography 21,92212.6%1,52726.1%258
C1 - Biology21,366 3.6%43
30
P3 - Media studies21,034 9.7%1,0374.9%142
H2 - Civil Engineering20,662 9.8%159
206
B1 - Anatomy,Physiology and Pathology 19,6507.4%

103
W3 - Music19,198 5.6%1,71517.5%328
X3 - Academic studies in Education 19,02910.1%8075.1%41
L3 - Sociology18,869 4.8%12
75
F1 - Chemistry18,331 -1.0%24
17
Y Combs of soc studies/law with business18,266 4.1%29
7
F3 - Physics17,344 6.0%20


Y Combs of phys/math science with social studies/bus/law 17,3087.6%209
26
F8 - Physical Geographical Sciences 17,1828.5%27
26
N5 - Marketing15,434 10.0%417
154
LL - Combinations within Social Studies 15,3919.1%71
20
Y Combs of arts/humanities 15,07411.8%263
62
H6 - Electronic and Electrical Engineering 14,8586.0%138
298
L7 - Human and Social Geography 14,0280.0%

3
Z Combs of 3 subjects, or other general courses 13,64310.6%7
101
P5 - Journalism12,923 24.0%269
37
Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences 12,89613.4%458
29
Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with languages 12,816-5.7%

3
K2 - Building12,030 -7.6%353
5408.2%
C7 - Molecular Biology,Biophysics & Biochem 11,6677.5%11
18
A2 - Pre-clinical Dentistry 11,5258.7%
M9 - Others in Law10,766 17.0%46
58
Y Combs of soc studies/law 9,8718.7%116
7
H4 - Aerospace Engineering 9,83120.0%55317.4%33
RR - Combinations within European Langs,Lit and related 9,8177.7%
W1 - Fine Art9,676 6.9%260
51
G5 - Information Systems 9,6258.4%62352.0%298
WW - Combinations within Creative Arts and Design 9,54413.4%1,00548.4%106
H1 - General Engineering 9,26714.2%46
64
V5 - Philosophy8,681 15.7%



H8 - Chemical,Process and Energy Engineering 8,67918.4%3
14
Y Combs of languages8,015 -0.4%



Y Combs of phys/math science with arts/humanities/languages 7,8082.6%265
90
GG - Combinations within Mathematical & Computer Sci 7,71812.1%160
2
B8 - Medical Technology7,660 4.1%63


D1 - Pre-clinical Veterinary Medicine 7,229-0.6%
VV - Combinations within Hist & Philosophical studies 6,7450.8%8
3
F6 - Geology6,620 15.6%

4
F4 - Forensic and Archaeological Science6,574 4.9%233
112
C3 - Zoology6,353 16.9%83
9
W5 - Dance6,353 4.7%204
158
V3 - History by Topic6,337 7.5%12


J9 - Others in Technology 5,56917.4%589-2.2%180
N3 - Finance5,507 -3.7%17
22
Q8 - Classical studies5,012 10.4%



G6 - Software Engineering 5,0056.9%192
102
Y Combs of sciences with engineering/technology 4,9983.1%92
20
B4 - Nutrition4,924 -5.9%

19
V6 - Theology and Religious studies 4,821-0.9%8
23
F7 - Science of Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments 4,801-4.5%94
20
B6 - Aural and Oral Sciences 4,743-10.2%
Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences with phys/math sciences 4,6716.8%152
13
M2 - Law by Topic4,011 7.4%76
27
D3 - Animal Science3,956 14.9%1,55916.6%252
B5 - Ophthalmics3,918 -7.1%88


PP - Combinations within Mass Comms & Documentation 3,893-16.9%49
13
R1 - French studies3,884 1.6%



R9 - Others in European Langs,Lit and related 3,806-8.4%
L6 - Anthropology3,342 2.5%



C9 - Others in Biological Sciences 3,33839.8%36
12
P9 - Others in Mass Comms & Documentation3,311 12.7%10
3
Y Combs of phys/math sciences 3,2955.1%

36
QQ - Combinations within Linguistics,Classics & related 3,1631.5%
K4 - Planning (Urban,Rural and Regional)2,985 -18.7%15
26
H7 - Production and Manufacturing Engineering 2,776-1.7%4
10
N6 - Human Resource Management 2,5882.3%17
28
T7 - American studies2,535 22.1%

5
W8 - Imaginative Writing 2,44521.2%14
9
L0 - Social Studies: any area of study 2,44422.1%
FF - Combinations within Physical Sciences 2,4238.8%
CC - Combinations within Biological Sciences 2,4148.7%

1
L4 - Social Policy2,410 7.7%74283.7%118
D4 - Agriculture2,404 7.2%94230.3%175
HH - Combinations within Engineering 2,23514.7%59
14
Q1 - Linguistics2,072 -14.8%1


B3 - Complementary Medicine 2,055-13.7%200
38
P2 - Publicity studies2,005 17.3%

11
V4 - Archaeology1,959 10.2%34
2
N9 - Others in Business & Admin Studies 1,9430.7%6
C4 - Genetics1,889 7.0%



R4 - Spanish studies1,825 1.0%



MM - Combinations within Law 1,81516.2%56
7
C5 - Microbiology1,801 15.1%



L9 - Others in Social Studies 1,704-1.2%61
32
T9 - Others in non-European Langs & related 1,564-47.7%
R2 - German studies1,384 -4.6%



T2 - Japanese studies1,261 29.2%



Y Combs of engineering/technology 1,23437.1%
Y Combs of engin/tech/building studies 98218.5%15
R8 - European studies916 1935.6%

1
W9 - Others in Creative Arts and Design 83922.5%317
2
XX - Combinations within Education 82666.5%23
D6 - Food and Beverage studies 7726.0%175
18
J7 - Biotechnology722 24.9%



BB - Combinations within Subjects allied to Medicine 7219.9%9
9
T1 - Chinese studies704 10.7%



W7 - Crafts702 -3.4%90
7
F5 - Astronomy695 21.1%



G3 - Statistics655 -0.6%



KK - Combinations within Architecture,Build & Plan 597-15.1%18
3
F9 - Others in Physical Sciences 586-10.0%
J5 - Materials Technology not otherwise spec 568-17.7%3
G0 - Mathematical & Comp Sci: any area 56430.3%
J4 - Polymers and Textiles 564-4.9%1
P1 - Information Services562 6.6%4
2
R0 - European Langs,Lit & related: any area525 -0.8%



Q5 - Celtic studies521 2.2%

6
V9 - Others in Hist & Philosophical studies516 0.4%

1
K3 - Landscape Design494
33
8
T6 - Modern Middle-Eastern studies475




J6 - Maritime Technology445
38
2
Q2 - Comparative Literary studies443




R7 - Russian and East European studies421




TT - Combinations within non-European Langs & related 405
V2 - History by Area378



H0 - Engineering: any area of study 351
4


H5 - Naval Architecture343
34


P4 - Publishing322
31


G7 - Artificial Intelligence 284
15


R3 - Italian studies261



D9 - Others in Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects 247
G2 - Operational Research240


6
DD - Combinations within Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects 239
X9 - Others in Education216
162
1
F0 - Physical Sciences: any area of study 188
Q9 - Others in Linguistics,Classics & related 185
W0 - Creative Arts & Design: any area179




C0 - Biological Sciences: any area of study 143
D7 - Agricultural Sciences 141
1
21
D5 - Forestry120
69
6
T5 - African studies100



J1 - Minerals Technology95



A9 - Others in Medicine and Dentistry 93


110
G9 - Others in Mathematical & Computer Sci 86
C2 - Botany84


N0 - Business & Admin studies: any area72




R6 - Scandinavian studies68



T3 - South Asian studies64



Q4 - Ancient Language studies59




Q6 - Latin studies58



N7 - Office Skills46
1
1
T4 - Other Asian studies43



J2 - Metallurgy35



K9 - Others in Architecture, Build & Plan 35
F2 - Materials Science33



JJ - Combinations within Technology19




K0 - Architecture,Build & Plan: any area 17
Q7 - Classical Greek studies17




J0 - Technologies: any area of study12




R5 - Portuguese studies11



H9 - Others in Engineering10
6


X2 - Research and Study Skills in Education 1
Grand Total1,896,213 7.0%39,97617.6%62,4229.0%

Table notes:

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.

Percentage change is not shown if both the number of 2009 choices AND the number of 2008 choices is less than 500.



Table 8 - Foundations degree, applicants and applications (number of choices)


Applicants Choices
200926,73239,976
200823,19534,006
Percent change15.2% 17.6%


Notes to editors

  • UCAS is the organisation responsible for managing applications to UK higher education courses.
  • Data on the number of applications (choices made) to individual institutions can be found in the 15 January applications digest.
  • The next snapshot of figures for the current 2009 cycle will be issued in April.

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