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Provisional final figures for 2009

Following a record-breaking processing year for applications, the provisional final figures for the number of students being accepted into university or college has now been released by UCAS; 477,277 applicants have now had a place confirmed at a university or college this year, an increase of 25,406 (5.6%) on the same point last year.

Virginia Isaac, Acting Chief Executive at UCAS said: "This year has been unprecedented in many respects. Significantly increased applications and far more students being accepted at a university or college than ever before. In particular we have seen a notable increase - of 10.1% - in acceptances of students aged 25 and over."

Analysis shows that acceptances are being made with a long term view of the marketplace, countering the challenges certain industries are facing in the current economic climate. Increases in acceptances for degree subjects such as journalism (+15.7%), nursing (+20.0%) and business related courses are contrasting against those that are falling. Those linked with linguistics skills are particularly noticeable in their decline.

Many of the science, technology, engineering and maths related subjects, where the Government has made recent investment, have seen an increase in acceptances.

Virginia said "The electronic systems supporting Confirmation and Clearing worked particularly smoothly this year, placing students more quickly than in previous years. UCAS is now well placed to develop the service should external circumstances demand it."

"This year we saw a considerable increase in the number of students accepted through Clearing. This confounded predictions that additional places would be limited."

A new feature this year was Adjustment. Each year some applicants pass their exams with better results than expected, exceeding the conditions of their firm choice. The five-day window allowed over 380 students to find an alternative place.

Over 40% of applicants had the opportunity to use the scheme. Of a total of 3,600 registrations, 384 were placed in their Adjustment choice, 2,355 reconfirmed with their original choice and 444 were placed in another choice (main scheme, Extra or Clearing). 417 of those who registered were not placed.

Virginia continues: "The new Adjustment process operated smoothly. While only a small number of applicants utilised the service, it gave students, particularly those with more vocational qualifications, the chance to review their options within a secure framework"


Table 1: Applicant statistics - 55 days after the release of A level results

  2009 2008 2007
       
Applicants accepted (1)      
- having unconditional or confirmed conditional offers 429,705 408,726 373,494
- having found a place in Clearing 47,188 43,145 38,477
- having been placed using Adjustment 384 0 0
- Total number of accepted applicants 477,277 451,871 411,971
       
Applicants with a non-Clearing outcome pending      
- decision from institution or applicant reply 1,987 2,804 2,023
       
Applicants currently eligible for Clearing      
- no offers, conditions not met, applied very late 139,520 114,009 103,324
       
Applicants withdrawn from scheme (2) 14,808 13,973 14,580
       
Total number of applicants 633,592 582,657 531,898
       
Days from publication of GCE results: 55 55 55
Comparison date (3) 14/10/09 08/10/08 10/10/07
Number of institutions within UCAS membership receiving applications 304 306 322

Table 1 notes

  • Includes those deferring entry to the following year. (Applicants are counted in the year in which they apply, not the year in which they intend to begin their course.)
  • Includes those withdrawn after accepting an offer.
  • Comparisons with previous years are made relative to the publication of Advanced level results (20 August 2009, 14 August 2008 and 16 August 2007). For example, figures for Wednesday 14 October 2009, fifty five days after this year's publication date, will be compared with those for Wednesday 08 October 2008 and Wednesday 10 October 2007.

Table 2: Acceptances from applicants by age group and gender

YearMaleFemale Total
20 years and under 2009 167,169 197,721 364,890
2008 158,155 190,896 349,051
% change 5.7% 3.6% 4.5%
21 to 24 years 2009 28,235 29,682 57,917
2008 26,161 27,178 53,339
% change 7.9% 9.2% 8.6%
25 years and over 2009 20,310 34,160 54,470
2008 18,261 31,220 49,481
% change 11.2% 9.4% 10.1%
Total 2009 215,714 261,563 477,277
2008 202,577 249,294 451,871
% change 6.5% 4.9% 5.6%

Table 3: Acceptances by age and UK country


Country of residence
England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Total
20 years and under 2009 277,045 15,369 21,887 11,643 325,944
2008 266,540 14,257 20,929 11,468 313,194
% change 3.9% 7.8% 4.6% 1.5% 4.1%
21 to 24 years 2009 38,702 2,257 3,545 1,275 45,779
2008 35,439 1,916 3,353 1,216 41,924
% change 9.2% 17.8% 5.7% 4.9% 9.2%
25 years and over 2009 43,543 2,604 3,547 709 50,403
2008 39,100 2,102 3,229 765 45,196
% change 11.4% 23.9% 9.8% -7.3% 11.5%
Total 2009 359,290 20,230 28,979 13,627 422,126
2008 341,079 18,275 27,511 13,449 400,314
% change 5.3% 10.7% 5.3% 1.3% 5.4%

Table 4: Acceptances by area of domicile and country of accepting institution

Area of Permanent Residence Country of institution Total
England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland
England 2009 344,508 9,724 4,783 275 359,290
2008 327,971 8,423 4,411 274 341,079
% change 5.0% 15.4% 8.4% 0.4% 5.3%
Wales 2009 5,692 14,393 132 13 20,230
2008 5,492 12,664 109 10 18,275
% change 3.6% 13.7% 21.1% 30.0% 10.7%
Scotland 2009 1,715 52 27,194 18 28,979
2008 1,768 67 25,654 22 27,511
% change -3.0% -22.4% 6.0% -18.2% 5.3%
Northern Ireland 2009 3,126 117 1,079 9,305 13,627
2008 3,223 109 1,104 9,013 13,449
% change -3.0% 7.3% -2.3% 3.2% 1.3%
Rep. of Ireland 2009 1,377 251 781 447 2,856
2008 1,285 200 727 411 2,623
% change 7.2% 25.5% 7.4% 8.8% 8.9%
Other EU 2009 16,128 830 3,550 20 20,528
2008 14,864 620 3,044 29 18,557
% change 8.5% 33.9% 16.6% -31.0% 10.6%
Non EU 2009 27,381 1,128 3,171 87 31,767
2008 25,773 1,035 3,502 67 30,377
% change 6.2% 9.0% -9.5% 29.9% 4.6%
Total 2009 399,927 26,495 40,690 10,165 477,277
2008 380,376 23,118 38,551 9,826 451,871
% change 5.1% 14.6% 5.5% 3.5% 5.6%

Table 5: Acceptances by overseas country (> 600 Acceptances only)

Country 2009 2008 Percent change
China 6,073 5,969 1.7%
France 2,956 2,565 15.2%
Ireland 2,856 2,623 8.9%
Cyprus 2,612 2,329 12.2%
Hong Kong 2,562 2,611 -1.9%
Malaysia 2,382 2,033 17.2%
Germany 2,380 2,197 8.3%
India 1,744 1,714 1.8%
Nigeria 1,576 1,813 -13.1%
Greece 1,538 1,660 -7.3%
Bulgaria 1,264 821 54.0%
Poland 1,196 1,500 -20.3%
Singapore 1,196 977 22.4%
United States of America 1,168 1,190 -1.8%
Pakistan 1,068 1,365 -21.8%
Norway 955 779 22.6%
Canada 906 789 14.8%
Romania 896 622 44.1%
Lithuania 891 689 29.3%
Italy 871 695 25.3%
Spain 841 714 17.8%
Sweden 807 785 2.8%
Saudi Arabia 753 526 43.2%
All overseas 55,151 51,557 7.0%

Table 6: Acceptances by subject (all subjects)

Joint Academic Coding System (JACS 2) Subject Line Degree 2009Percent change Found. degree 2009Percent change Other 2009Percent change
M1 - Law by Area17,346 1.7%32
24
W2 - Design studies16,674 5.5%1,7968.4%344
C8 - Psychology15,327 3.4%44
26
G4 - Computer Science11,328 7.0%1,0008.0%715-0.8%
N2 - Management studies 10,708-4.1%382
886 0.2%
N1 - Business studies10,597 3.4%66834.4%55523.3%
Q3 - English studies10,374 5.4%16
12
NN - Combinations within Business & Admin Studies 10,31111.4%53958.5%227
C6 - Sports Science9,274 3.9%1,08519.2%424
Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with arts/humanities 8,6778.4%92140.0%86
B7 - Nursing8,600 20.0%297
16,11015.8%
V1 - History by Period8,510 5.0%1
11
A1 - Pre-clinical Medicine 7,967-0.6%



Y Combs of languages with arts/humanities7,800 4.8%

16
X1 - Training Teachers7,624 0.9%320
63
L5 - Social Work7,590 6.2%1,19225.5%1,7092.6%
N8 - Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism and Transport 7,3238.4%1,31319.5%626 -2.6%
B9 - Others in Subjects allied to Medicine 7,18810.7%448
899 33.8%
L1 - Economics7,058 2.8%



G1 - Mathematics6,908 7.6%



W6 - Cinematics and Photography 6,44811.0%1,05027.7%202
N4 - Accounting6,382 3.1%96
40
Y Combs of science/engineering with arts/humanities/languages 6,3799.4%1,45031.2%152
W4 - Drama6,353 4.7%69413.8%415
X3 - Academic studies in Education 6,2288.3%804-0.7%54
Y Combs of science/engineering with social studies/bus/law 5,833-3.7%441
91
H3 - Mechanical Engineering 5,75711.9%338
104
Z Combs of 3 subjects, or other general courses 5,229-0.2%3
43
L2 - Politics5,195 9.4%

42
P3 - Media studies5,141 8.0%348
66
L3 - Sociology4,760 4.0%42
102
C1 - Biology4,664 2.0%13
21
H6 - Electronic and Electrical Engineering 4,6543.7%71
226
W1 - Fine Art4,635 2.8%227
68
W3 - Music4,482 3.0%602-1.3%166
H2 - Civil Engineering4,432 3.2%86
145
K1 - Architecture4,349 3.9%50
15
B2 - Pharmacology,Toxicology and Pharmacy4,322 6.1%52
3
Y Combs of arts/humanities 3,9217.9%190
25
N5 - Marketing3,889 6.0%95
55
F1 - Chemistry3,885 -3.0%59
12
Y Combs of phys/math science with social studies/bus/law 3,749-2.9%136
7
F3 - Physics3,559 7.0%14


F8 - Physical Geographical Sciences 3,5187.3%18
15
K2 - Building3,506 -3.4%338
444
B1 - Anatomy,Physiology and Pathology 3,3895.1%

31
Y Combs of soc studies/law with business3,332 -4.9%32
2
WW - Combinations within Creative Arts and Design 3,28210.5%5549.7%64
H1 - General Engineering 3,2613.1%24
74
G5 - Information Systems 3,1654.9%409
187
Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences 3,07613.8%283
16
LL - Combinations within Social Studies 2,7452.3%130
57
Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with languages 2,725-5.2%

2
L7 - Human and Social Geography 2,725-1.4%



P5 - Journalism2,675 15.7%144
21
M9 - Others in Law2,650 11.8%63
104
Y Combs of phys/math science with arts/humanities/languages 2,2856.5%179
97
C7 - Molecular Biology,Biophysics & Biochem 2,239-5.0%10
25
Y Combs of soc studies/law 2,137-2.5%88
8
GG - Combinations within Mathematical & Computer Sci 2,11013.7%135
2
H4 - Aerospace Engineering 2,01620.7%216
8
B8 - Medical Technology1,924 10.2%33


F4 - Forensic and Archaeological Science1,862 12.2%124
57
J9 - Others in Technology 1,83619.0%358
66
H8 - Chemical,Process and Energy Engineering 1,82611.0%

12
RR - Combinations within European Langs,Lit and related 1,8153.2%



V5 - Philosophy1,599 12.6%



Y Combs of languages1,573 -7.2%



F6 - Geology1,524 8.7%

5
G6 - Software Engineering 1,4664.5%134
62
Y Combs of sciences with engineering/technology 1,428-4.5%89
74
Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences with phys/math sciences 1,4211.4%69
16
VV - Combinations within Hist & Philosophical studies 1,3550.1%10
1
C3 - Zoology1,354 10.5%67
1
N3 - Finance1,323 -7.9%1
7
V3 - History by Topic1,318 -1.2%11
7
F7 - Science of Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments 1,310-5.5%82
51
A2 - Pre-clinical Dentistry 1,2170.6%



B3 - Complementary Medicine 1,200-9.9%276
23
V6 - Theology and Religious studies 1,193-7.7%28
14
W5 - Dance1,179 13.1%113
67
B4 - Nutrition1,154 3.6%

5
D3 - Animal Science1,113 17.5%7639.5%145
C9 - Others in Biological Sciences 1,08325.5%54
8
M2 - Law by Topic1,048 -5.5%112
10
PP - Combinations within Mass Comms & Documentation 987-13.1%35
15
K4 - Planning (Urban,Rural and Regional)951 -11.1%19
49
Q8 - Classical studies901 1.8%



B6 - Aural and Oral Sciences 891-2.0%



D1 - Pre-clinical Veterinary Medicine 886-6.6%



L4 - Social Policy882 1.1%435
86
B5 - Ophthalmics812 5.9%49


R1 - French studies797 2.2%



R9 - Others in European Langs,Lit and related 795-13.0%



D4 - Agriculture782 15.3%76621.8%197
W8 - Imaginative Writing780 28.1%11
6
P9 - Others in Mass Comms & Documentation776 -8.6%12
1
Y Combs of phys/math sciences 752-2.5%

32
L6 - Anthropology692 -1.0%



N9 - Others in Business & Admin Studies 67822.8%4


H7 - Production and Manufacturing Engineering 661-10.4%3
7
N6 - Human Resource Management 654-10.7%

7
HH - Combinations within Engineering 64819.8%66
14
QQ - Combinations within Linguistics,Classics & related 633-0.2%



FF - Combinations within Physical Sciences606 9.6%



L9 - Others in Social Studies 596-1.2%48
20
Q1 - Linguistics542 -18.0%9


W9 - Others in Creative Arts and Design 53020.5%213
1
P2 - Publicity studies520 9.9%

2
W7 - Crafts513 -4.6%146
25
CC - Combinations within Biological Sciences 50825.7%



T7 - American studies499 -10.9%



V4 - Archaeology499 -6.4%26


L0 - Social Studies: any area of study 474


1
C4 - Genetics433




F9 - Others in Physical Sciences391




MM - Combinations within Law 391
33
2
R4 - Spanish studies390




C5 - Microbiology379




Y Combs of engineering/technology363




XX - Combinations within Education 349
196


T9 - Others in non-European Langs & related317 -51.20%



R2 - German studies284




J4 - Polymers and Textiles 277
4


D6 - Food and Beverage studies 276
155
13
R8 - European studies251




T2 - Japanese studies222




BB - Combinations within Subjects allied to Medicine 220
3
14
H5 - Naval Architecture209
10


J5 - Materials Technology not otherwise spec 209
12


K3 - Landscape Design205
52
12
Y Combs of engin/tech/building studies 204
11


KK - Combinations within Architecture,Build & Plan 189
24


Q2 - Comparative Literary studies181




G3 - Statistics174




F5 - Astronomy156




P1 - Information Services156




T1 - Chinese studies154




J6 - Maritime Technology151
5
1
V9 - Others in Hist & Philosophical studies 143




G0 - Mathematical & Comp Sci: any area137




Q5 - Celtic studies136


6
J7 - Biotechnology130




H0 - Engineering: any area of study125




T6 - Modern Middle-Eastern studies125




R7 - Russian and East European studies109




W0 - Creative Arts & Design: any area109




R0 - European Langs,Lit & related: any area 96




TT - Combinations within non-European Langs & related 94




V2 - History by Area91




P4 - Publishing86
22


R3 - Italian studies78




F0 - Physical Sciences: any area of study 73




DD - Combinations within Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects 69
11


G7 - Artificial Intelligence 61
5


Q9 - Others in Linguistics,Classics & related 55




X9 - Others in Education53
243


G2 - Operational Research52




D5 - Forestry50
103
1
X2 - Research and Study Skills in Education 49




G9 - Others in Mathematical & Computer Sci 48




T3 - South Asian studies48




D9 - Others in Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects 37




J2 - Metallurgy37




J1 - Minerals Technology31




T5 - African studies31




D7 - Agricultural Sciences30
1
28
A9 - Others in Medicine and Dentistry 19


23
C2 - Botany19




Q4 - Ancient Language studies17




JJ - Combinations within Technology15




N7 - Office Skills14
8


N0 - Business & Admin studies: any area13




R6 - Scandinavian studies13




C0 - Biological Sciences: any area of study 12




T4 - Other Asian studies11




Q6 - Latin studies10




H9 - Others in Engineering9
15


K0 - Architecture,Build & Plan: any area8




K9 - Others in Architecture,Build & Plan5




F2 - Materials Science4




J0 - Technologies: any area of study3




R5 - Portuguese studies3




Q7 - Classical Greek studies1




Grand Total425,522 4.6%24,61719.9%27,138 11.5%

Table 6 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.

UCAS is a charity and is the world's leading shared admissions service for higher education. We manage applications for full time undergraduate courses, together with applications through GTTR (Graduate Teacher Training Registry), CUKAS (Conservatoires UK Admissions Service) and UKPASS (UK Postgraduate Application and Statistical Service). Since its inception in 1993, UCAS has processed around 30 million applications and placed over 5 million students on higher education courses.

Services include:

  • An informative website (www.ucas.com) enabling students and parents to access a wealth of information designed to help their application to higher education run smoothly.
  • A state-of-the-art contact centre (0871 468 0468) providing a point of contact for students, schools and higher education institutions.
  • An online application system. A simple, straightforward tracking service enabling students and schools advisors to access up-to-date information about their applications at the click of a button.
  • Over 50 higher education events each year providing 250,000 students with face-to-face advice on the UCAS process. Internationally, we participated in events in over 12 countries and also provided training and professional development throughout Europe and beyond.
  • Media contacts

    Charlotte Knowles, Senior Corporate Communications Executive
    Darren Barker, Corporate Communications Officer
    James Durant, Corporate Communications Officer
    telephone: 01242 544987 or 01242 545723
    email: communications@ucas.ac.uk
    Out of hours: 07768 740461

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