LinkedinGoogle+YouTubeFacebookTwitter

Latest university application figures show 9.7% rise

The number of applicants to UK universities and colleges is up 9.7% on this time last year. Data released today by UCAS refers to the number of applications for people applying for full-time undergraduate courses by 30 June.

So far this year, 592,312 people have applied to start courses this autumn compared with 540,108 at the same point last year. These latest figures underline the growth seen earlier in the year.

The pronounced increase in mature applicants continues, with those who fall into the category of 21 to 24 years showing a rise of 14.9%, and an increase of 18.8% from applicants over the age of 25.

Applications from men (10.7%) show a larger increase than women (8.9%) reversing the trend of previous years.

Applications from European Union countries outside of the UK show a rise of 15.4% compared to last year.

Journalism (+27.2%), Nursing (+24%), Aerospace Engineering (+22.5%), Mechanical Engineering (+19.1%) and Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism and Transport (+17.4%) all show larger than average increases.

There is also strong interest in combinations of science and engineering with arts, humanities and languages subjects (+19.7%).

Media contacts

Darren Barker and Charlotte Knowles
tel: 01242 545723 or 01242 544987
email: communications@ucas.ac.uk
Out of hours: 07768 740 461

Table 1 - The number of applicants by 30 June; by entry cycle and gender

Year Female Male Total
2009 332,006 260,306 592,312
2008 304,946 235,162 540,108
% change +8.9% +10.7% +9.7%


Table 2 - Applicants by declared Area of Permanent Residence

Year England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Rep. of Ireland Other EU Non EU Total
2009 429,734 22,839 35,892 17,451 5,973 30,925 49,498 592,312
2008 390,358 20,577 33,890 16,689 5,205 26,769 46,620 540,108
% change +10.1% +11.0% +5.9% +4.6% +14.8% +15.5% +6.2% +9.7%


Table 3 - Applicants by age and UK country of permanent residence by 30 June


 Country of residence
England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Total
20 years and under 2009 323,395 17,158 26,868 14,495 381,916
2008 302,330 15,905 25,834 13,917 357,986
% change +7.0% +7.9% +4.0% +4.2% +6.7%
21 to 24 years 2009 48,533 2,681 4,450 1,779 57,443
2008 41,037 2,267 4,044 1,645 48,993
% change +18.3% +18.3% +10.0% +8.1% +17.2%
25 years and over 2009 57,806 3,000 4,574 1,177 66,557
2008 46,991 2,405 4,012 1,127 54,535
% change +23.0% +24.7% +14.0% +4.4% +22.0%
Total 2009 429,734 22,839 35,892 17,451 505,916
2008 390,358 20,577 33,890 16,689 461,514
% change +10.1% +11.0% +5.9% +4.6% +9.6%


Table 4 - Applicants by age and declared area of permanent residence by 30 June


 Area of Permanent Residence
UK Other EU Non EU Total
20 years and under 2009 381,916 27,235 35,170 444,321
2008 357,986 23,104 32,336 413,426
% change +6.7% +17.9% +8.8% +7.5%
21 to 24 years 2009 57,443 7,410 9,877 74,730
2008 48,993 6,716 9,309 65,018
% change +17.2% +10.3% +6.1% +14.9%
25 years and over 2009 66,557 2,253 4,451 73,261
2008 54,535 2,154 4,975 61,664
% change +22.0% +4.6% -10.5% +18.8%
Total 2009 505,916 36,898 49,498 592,312
2008 461,514 31,974 46,620 540,108
% change +9.6% +15.4% +6.2% +9.7%


Table 5 - Applicants by declared area of permanent residence and country of institution as of 30 June

Area of permanent residence Country of institution
England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland
England 2009 428,307 38,104 30,799 1,469
2008 389,097 35,484 29,844 1,235
% change +10.1% +7.4% +3.2% +18.9%
Wales 2009 13,122 19,330 926 85
2008 12,142 17,304 942 67
% change +8.1% +11.7% -1.7% +26.9%
Scotland 2009 4,937 318 34,811 161
2008 4,773 305 32,848 154
% change +3.4% +4.3% +6.0% +4.5%
Northern Ireland 2009 9,212 880 5,131 15,016
2008 8,832 813 5,142 14,304
% change +4.3% +8.2% -0.2% +5.0%
Rep. of Ireland 2009 4,120 1,115 2,949 1,787
2008 3,580 1,023 2,659 1,572
% change +15.1% +9.0% +10.9% +13.7%
Other EU 2009 27,658 2,647 9,237 176
2008 24,071 2,201 8,027 165
% change +14.9% +20.3% +15.1% +6.7%
Non EU 2009 46,309 5,169 9,291 600
2008 43,441 4,845 8,803 575
% change +6.6% +6.7% +5.5% +4.3%
Total 2009 533,665 67,563 93,144 19,294
2008 485,936 61,975 88,265 18,072
% change +9.8% +9.0% +5.5% +6.8%

Table 5 note - 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.

The above table relates solely to Main Scheme applicants and the choices that such applicants have made within the Main Scheme, choices made in "Extra" are not taken into account. Likewise acceptance notifications received directly from institutions (Records of Prior Acceptance) and any choices associated with such notifications are not taken into account in compiling the above table.

Wales (up 11.7%) and Northern Ireland (up 5%) both show a rise in applicants to institutions in those countries. Scotland shows a rise of 6% and England a rise of 10% applicants heading there.

Table 6 - Applicants with a non-UK area of permanent residence by country (countries having more than 600 applicants) by 30 June

Country 2009 2008 Percent change
China 8,407 7,880 +6.7%
Ireland 5,973 5,205 +14.8%
France 4,102 3,535 +16.0%
Germany 3,772 3,459 +9.0%
Cyprus 3,539 2,991 +18.3%
Hong Kong 3,333 3,228 +3.3%
Malaysia 3,064 2,795 +9.6%
India 2,800 2,413 +16.0%
United States of America 2,762 2,581 +7.0%
Nigeria 2,529 2,807 -9.9%
Singapore 2,439 2,013 +21.2%
Greece 2,235 2,049 +9.1%
Poland 2,176 2,320 -6.2%
Pakistan 2,171 2,399 -9.5%
Canada 1,764 1,615 +9.2%
Bulgaria 1,651 1,056 +56.3%
Italy 1,548 1,227 +26.2%
Sweden 1,477 1,385 +6.6%
Norway 1,429 1,236 +15.6%
Saudi Arabia 1,425 996 +43.1%
Lithuania 1,363 1,013 +34.6%
Romania 1,262 755 +67.2%
Spain 1,242 1,053 +17.9%
Korea (South) 961 858 +12.0%
Belgium 885 771 +14.8%
Brunei 796 701 +13.6%
Switzerland 757 621 +21.9%
Netherlands 744 710 +4.8%
United Arab Emirates 704 640 +10.0%
Kenya 662 677 -2.2%
Russia 636 607 +4.8%
Latvia 631 468 +34.8%
Sri Lanka 623 917 -32.1%
Finland 618 574 +7.7%
All overseas (incl. non-UK EU countries) 86,396 78,594 +9.9%


Table 7 - The number of choices by 30 June by JACS 2 subject line and course type (degree, foundation degree and other)

Joint Academic Coding System (JACS 2) Subject Line Degree 2009 Percent change Foundation degree 2009 Percent change Other 2009 Percent change
M1 - Law by Area 91,483 4.2% 83
53
C8 - Psychology 80,784 5.3% 84
64
W2 - Design studies 71,408 8.9% 5,182 10.0% 933 -12.8%
A1 - Pre-clinical Medicine 70,006 1.3%



B7 - Nursing 67,000 24.0% 3,871 17.4% 63,466 22.9%
N2 - Management studies 61,949 1.9% 972 9.6% 2,484 -0.1%
Q3 - English studies 57,573 6.9% 26
30
NN - Combinations within Business & Admin Studies 57,276 10.8% 1,286 -8.4% 981 6.3%
N1 - Business studies 54,045 6.0% 1,570 17.9% 1,346 7.9%
G4 - Computer Science 49,677 10.9% 2,409 -0.9% 1,696 -0.9%
L1 - Economics 49,175 13.8%



L5 - Social Work 47,305 7.7% 1,882 30.3% 11,478 16.1%
V1 - History by Period 47,008 7.9% 2
26
X1 - Training Teachers 46,890 5.8% 481
76
C6 - Sports Science 45,844 6.1% 3,093 25.1% 1,049 -0.9%
Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with arts/humanities 45,407 10.3% 1,917 7.8% 243
W4 - Drama 45,353 9.4% 2,639 41.3% 1,094 9.9%
Y Combs of languages with arts/humanities 39,243 6.8%

55
G1 - Mathematics 37,615 10.8%

1
Y Combs of science/engineering with arts/humanities/languages 33,976 19.7% 4,440 27.3% 328
N4 - Accounting 32,545 6.2% 221
157
N8 - Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism and Transport 32,048 17.4% 3,552 26.5% 2,081 -12.0%
H3 - Mechanical Engineering 31,548 19.1% 907 36.0% 195
B9 - Others in Subjects allied to Medicine 31,257 7.0% 705 34.8% 2,993 61.0%
W6 - Cinematics and Photography 30,930 13.7% 3,100 25.7% 424 -39.1%
L2 - Politics 29,258 16.7% 1
52
K1 - Architecture 28,396 7.1% 101
30
Y Combs of science/engineering with social studies/bus/law 27,913 0.4% 1,186 21.8% 260
B2 - Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy 25,644 2.4% 130
36
H2 - Civil Engineering 25,073 10.4% 275
347
P3 - Media studies 24,672 10.3% 1,357 0.8% 180
C1 - Biology 24,638 8.9% 77
46
X3 - Academic studies in Education 24,464 9.2% 1,554 17.4% 67
B1 - Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology 22,034 11.5%

79
W3 - Music 21,823 6.2% 2,184 14.3% 466
L3 - Sociology 21,782 4.3% 33
139
Y Combs of soc studies/law with business 21,546 3.0% 76
14
H6 - Electronic and Electrical Engineering 21,496 7.1% 240
542 -12.4%
Y Combs of phys/math science with social studies/bus/law 19,824 7.1% 422
44
F1 - Chemistry 19,542 -1.1% 37
18
N5 - Marketing 18,889 11.7% 555 1.1% 238
W1 - Fine Art 18,408 4.7% 687 19.5% 147
F3 - Physics 18,202 7.2% 25


Y Combs of arts/humanities 18,144 12.5% 496
74
F8 - Physical Geographical Sciences 17,920 8.0% 38
43
LL - Combinations within Social Studies 17,180 11.4% 118
49
Z Combs of 3 subjects, or other general courses 16,908 8.8% 10
155
K2 - Building 14,921 -4.1% 700 23.0% 1,068 1.6%
L7 - Human and Social Geography 14,597 0.4%

4
Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences 14,579 15.5% 696 32.8% 56
WW - Combinations within Creative Arts and Design 14,313 11.4% 1,521 28.8% 194
P5 - Journalism 14,243 27.2% 442
58
Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with languages 14,150 -5.1%

4
C7 - Molecular Biology, Biophysics & Biochem 12,781 6.7% 14
33
G5 - Information Systems 12,444 5.4% 939 44.9% 440
M9 - Others in Law 12,423 19.2% 76
104
H1 - General Engineering 12,108 12.6% 81
118
A2 - Pre-clinical Dentistry 11,767 9.6%



H4 - Aerospace Engineering 11,665 22.5% 826 21.1% 54
Y Combs of soc studies/law 11,301 11.3% 148
8
RR - Combinations within European Langs, Lit and related 10,210 8.1%



H8 - Chemical, Process and Energy Engineering 10,068 17.6% 6
32
Y Combs of phys/math science with arts/humanities/languages 9,715 7.0% 433
154
B8 - Medical Technology 9,686 13.1% 110


V5 - Philosophy 9,369 16.7%



GG - Combinations within Mathematical & Computer Sci 9,095 14.5% 286
2
Y Combs of languages 8,656 0.6%



F4 - Forensic and Archaeological Science 7,482 5.7% 326
174
W5 - Dance 7,285 6.5% 287
169
F6 - Geology 7,212 11.7%

15
D1 - Pre-clinical Veterinary Medicine 7,193 1.5%



N3 - Finance 7,127 -5.1% 20
27
VV - Combinations within Hist & Philosophical studies 7,109 0.7% 17
4
V3 - History by Topic 6,924 7.4% 19
10
C3 - Zoology 6,829 14.9% 135
11
J9 - Others in Technology 6,792 19.6% 881 -1.5% 248
Y Combs of sciences with engineering/technology 6,274 4.1% 162
47
G6 - Software Engineering 6,177 8.3% 311
150
Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences with phys/math sciences 5,930 7.6% 204
26
B4 - Nutrition 5,853 -3.6%

24
F7 - Science of Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments 5,590 -1.2% 146
52
V6 - Theology and Religious studies 5,363 1.3% 20
24
B6 - Aural and Oral Sciences 5,223 -6.1%



Q8 - Classical studies 5,130 9.5%



M2 - Law by Topic 4,782 8.6% 135
35
PP - Combinations within Mass Comms & Documentation 4,678 -16.2% 82
23
D3 - Animal Science 4,589 12.4% 2,245 21.6% 305
B5 - Ophthalmics 4,526 -4.7% 117


C9 - Others in Biological Sciences 4,226 34.2% 66
15
R1 - French studies 4,164 1.6%



R9 - Others in European Langs, Lit and related 4,085 -6.8%



P9 - Others in Mass Comms & Documentation 4,000 13.2% 16
4
L6 - Anthropology 3,673 0.6%



K4 - Planning (Urban, Rural and Regional) 3,601 -15.3% 33
74
Y Combs of phys/math sciences 3,590 7.4%

54
N6 - Human Resource Management 3,476 5.6% 16
45
QQ - Combinations within Linguistics, Classics & related 3,436 0.5%



H7 - Production and Manufacturing Engineering 3,188 1.6% 9
15
L4 - Social Policy 3,131 -2.8% 944 64.2% 180
W8 - Imaginative Writing 3,102 26.7% 23
15
B3 - Complementary Medicine 2,966 -8.8% 439
61
HH - Combinations within Engineering 2,868 4.1% 143
24
D4 - Agriculture 2,836 9.8% 1,583 31.5% 339
CC - Combinations within Biological Sciences 2,715 9.3%

1
T7 - American studies 2,682 18.0%

3
N9 - Others in Business & Admin Studies 2,627 6.2% 12


FF - Combinations within Physical Sciences 2,590 10.6%



L0 - Social Studies: any area of study 2,568 26.1%



V4 - Archaeology 2,471 13.2% 49
3
P2 - Publicity studies 2,426 15.8%

15
Q1 - Linguistics 2,371 -13.6% 5


L9 - Others in Social Studies 2,238 -6.5% 95
46
C4 - Genetics 2,156 5.4%



C5 - Microbiology 2,100 15.9%



R4 - Spanish studies 2,028 2.9%



MM - Combinations within Law 1,964 12.9% 74
7
T9 - Others in non-European Langs & related 1,635 -46.3%



W7 - Crafts 1,575 -11.9% 329
21
Y Combs of engineering/technology 1,574 37.8% 1


W9 - Others in Creative Arts and Design 1,506 24.8% 572 26.3% 5
R2 - German studies 1,473 -5.0%



T2 - Japanese studies 1,410 33.9%



XX - Combinations within Education 1,218 84.3% 169


J4 - Polymers and Textiles 1,119 2.0% 3
1
Y Combs of engin/tech/building studies 1,097 12.4% 27


D6 - Food and Beverage studies 1,016 12.3% 346
44
R8 - European studies 968 493.9%

1
J7 - Biotechnology 919 24.4%



BB - Combinations within Subjects allied to Medicine 898 -4.5% 14
22
F9 - Others in Physical Sciences 873 0.8%



G3 - Statistics 798 3.0%



T1 - Chinese studies 786 17.1%



J5 - Materials Technology not otherwise spec 771 -13.6% 16


F5 - Astronomy 750 20.8%



KK - Combinations within Architecture, Build & Plan 733 -12.2% 53
1
K3 - Landscape Design 673 20.0% 83
19
P1 - Information Services 671 7.4% 5
6
G0 - Mathematical & Comp Sci: any area 608 34.8% 4


V9 - Others in Hist & Philosophical studies 588 -7.0%

1
H0 - Engineering: any area of study 582 27.4% 5


T6 - Modern Middle-Eastern studies 575 -3.7%



Q5 - Celtic studies 574 6.1%

9
R0 - European Langs, Lit & related: any area 564 0.7%



J6 - Maritime Technology 557 12.1% 57
12
Q2 - Comparative Literary studies 513 -9.8%



R7 - Russian and East European studies 492




H5 - Naval Architecture 462
55


TT - Combinations within non-European Langs & related 436




V2 - History by Area 421




P4 - Publishing 333
58


W0 - Creative Arts & Design: any area 322




G7 - Artificial Intelligence 320
27


G2 - Operational Research 311


7
R3 - Italian studies 309




Q9 - Others in Linguistics, Classics & related 284




DD - Combinations within Vet Sci, Ag & related subjects 283
9


F0 - Physical Sciences: any area of study 283




X9 - Others in Education 260
332
1
D9 - Others in Vet Sci, Ag & related subjects 254




D7 - Agricultural Sciences 173
3
27
J1 - Minerals Technology 164




C0 - Biological Sciences: any area of study 148




D5 - Forestry 140
159
12
N0 - Business & Admin studies: any area 135




T5 - African studies 128




A9 - Others in Medicine and Dentistry 111


69
C2 - Botany 106




G9 - Others in Mathematical & Computer Sci 104




T3 - South Asian studies 88




N7 - Office Skills 79
3
1
R6 - Scandinavian studies 75




Q4 - Ancient Language studies 63




Q6 - Latin studies 61




X2 - Research and Study Skills in Education 58




J2 - Metallurgy 57




T4 - Other Asian studies 55




K9 - Others in Architecture, Build & Plan 48




JJ - Combinations within Technology 47




F2 - Materials Science 33




K0 - Architecture, Build & Plan: any area 23




Q7 - Classical Greek studies 23




J0 - Technologies: any area of study 13




R5 - Portuguese studies 13




H9 - Others in Engineering 12
12


Grand Total 2,224,289 8.1% 65,258 20.2% 99,112 16.2%


Table 7 notes - '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: Foundation degree, applicants and applications (number of choices) by 30 June

  Applicants Choices
2009 45,749 65,258
2008 38,414 54,312
Percent change +19.1% +20.2%


Table 8 note - The above table relates solely to the applicants who have made at least one choice to a Foundation Degree course within the Main Scheme; choices made in "Extra" are not taken into account. Likewise notifications of acceptances received directly from institutions (Records of Prior Acceptance) and any choices associated with such notifications are not taken into account in compiling the above table.

Notes to editors

  • UCAS is the organisation responsible for managing applications to UK higher education courses.
  • UCAS is a private company and charity and not a government body.
  • Data on the number of applications (choices made) to individual institutions can be found in the 30 June applications digest which will be published on the 16 July.

Back to 2009