21st December 2011 9:00
By Blue Tutors
Following last month’s announcement by UCAS that there had been a significant drop in applications compared to the same time last year, they have confirmed that university applications are still approximately 12% down compared to the 2011 intake.
Reported on the BBC, UCAS have reiterated that it is too soon to tell whether the significant decrease in applicants will remain at this figure as we approach the January deadline, and that they expect a late surge in applications. It appears as though UCAS may be towing the government line, as they suggested that it is too early to tell whether the increase in tuition fees is the cause of the decrease in applications. The applications to Oxbridge and medical schools (the deadlines for which are in October) show no significant change, and UCAS are using this as a measure to assume that overall applications will not change, but this overlooks the likelihood that those students discouraged from attending university are unlikely to be students who would apply for the most prestigious places.
The only voice of reason in the article was from a representative at Reading University, who confirm that there has been a drop in applications for the 2012 intake, compared to 2011. However, it was pointed out that the 2011 applicants were unwilling to take a gap year and defer entry because of the pending increase in tuition fees. The University of Reading’s applications for 2012 are actually very similar to those for 2010.