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First figures for 2010 entry

The first release of data on the number of applicants applying for full-time higher education courses that start in 2010 shows that, overall, the number of people applying is up 11.6% from 64,438 at this point last year to 71,883. The number of applicants from outside the UK is up 16.6%, with Ireland (43.0%) and China (26.8%) showing significant increases.

Acting Chief Executive, Virginia Isaac said, "While it is pleasing to see the continued rise in applications, it is too early in the cycle to tell whether this significant increase will be sustained throughout 2010 entry. It does indicate, however, that in certain areas, once again, prospective students will be facing strong competition for places."

Virginia continues, "It is likely that competition for places will be strong, but all applications that arrive before the deadline of 15 January will be given equal consideration by the universities and colleges. Given the amount of choice facing students, it is essential that they are able to access high quality information, advice and guidance in order to ensure that they choose the course and institution that is right for them."

"Medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine and science as well as places at Oxford and Cambridge are very competitive and this year is no different. Applicants to medicine are up 13.7% with those from women, particularly from overseas and other EU countries, continuing to outstrip men.

Table 1 - applicants through UCAS to medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine/science by the October deadline by area of permanent residence and gender.

Applicants through UCAS to medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine/science
Applicants UK Other EU
Male Female Total Male Female Total
Medicine
2010 7,671 9,160 16,831 810 1,338 2,148
2009 6,776 8,405 15,181 638 950 1,588
% change 13.2% 9.0% 10.9% 27.0% 40.8% 35.3%
Difference 895 755 1,650 172 388 560
  Non EU All
  Male Female Total Male Female Total
2010 1,040 1,370 2,410 9,521 11,868 21,389
2009 920 1,116 2,036 8,334 10,471 18,805
% change 13.0% 22.8% 18.4% 14.2% 13.3% 13.7%
Difference 120 254 374 1,187 1,397 2,584
 
Applicants UK Other EU
Male Female Total Male Female Total
Dentistry 2010 1,438 1,727 3,165 95 178 273
2009 1,287 1,558 2,845 70 120 190
% change 11.7% 10.8% 11.2% 35.7% 48.3% 43.7%
Difference 151 169 320 25 58 83
  Non EU All
  Male Female Total Male Female Total
2010 117 165 282 1,650 2,070 3,720
2009 93 176 269 1,450 1,854 3,304
% change 25.8% -6.3% 4.8% 13.8% 11.7% 12.6%
Difference 24 -11 13 200 216 416
 
Applicants UK Other EU
Male Female Total Male Female Total
Veterinary medicine / science 2010 443 1,418 1,861 71 256 327
2009 396 1,299 1,695 58 173 231
% change 11.9% 9.2% 9.8% 22.4% 48.0% 41.6%
Difference 47 119 166 13 83 96
  Non EU All
  Male Female Total Male Female Total
2010 19 113 132 533 1,787 2,320
2009 11 98 109 465 1,570 2,035
% change 72.7% 15.3% 21.1% 14.6% 13.8% 14.0%
Difference 8 15 23 68 217 285


Table 2 - the number of overseas* domiciled applicants by the October deadline; by entry cycle, overseas area of domicile (specified only if more than 200 applicants within the 2010 cycle)

The number of overseas domiciled applicants by the October deadline
Country 2010 2009 Percentage change
Ireland 1,343 939 43.0
China 1,101 868 26.8
Singapore 1,002 961 4.3
Germany 963 800 20.4
United States of America 900 802 12.2
Hong Kong 878 816 7.6
Malaysia 673 692 -2.7
Canada 651 624 4.3
Pakistan 523 309 69.3
Italy 468 286 63.6
Poland 444 404 9.9
France 419 439 -4.6
Sweden 416 337 23.4
India 360 307 17.3
Cyprus 340 342 -0.6
Greece 258 185 39.5
Spain 240 194 23.7
Belgium 228 202 12.9
Netherlands 225 183 23.0
Korea (South) 225 186 21.0
Romania 221 149 48.3
All overseas 16,145 13,847 16.6


Table 3 - applicants through UCAS by the October deadline by area of permanent residence and gender

Applicants through UCAS by the October deadline by area of permanent residence and gender
Applicants UK Other EU
  Male Female Total Male Female Total
2010 24,111 31,627 55,738 2,980 3,827 6,807
2009 22,252 28,339 50,591 2,502 3,040 5,542
% change 8.4% 11.6% 10.2% 19.1% 25.9% 22.8%
Difference 1,859 3,288 5,147 478 787 1,265
 
Applicants Non EU All
  Male Female Total Male Female Total
2010 4,679 4,659 9,338 31,770 40,113 71,883
2009 4,122 4,183 8,305 28,876 35,562 64,438
% change 13.5% 11.4% 12.4% 10.0% 12.8% 11.6%
Difference 557 476 1,033 2,894 4,551 7,445


Notes to editors

This snapshot, which is taken early in the cycle of university and college applications, coincides with the 15 October deadline for those wishing to study on medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, veterinary science courses. This early deadline also applies to those wishing to study at the universities of Oxford or Cambridge.

International applicants usually have to fund all of their tuition fees. Publicly funded universities and colleges are required by the government to limit the number of students they accept that normally reside in the UK or the EU. For international students applying for medicine and dentistry, limits apply.

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 advisers 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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