Latest university application figures show 7.8% rise

23 April 2008

The number of applicants to UK universities and colleges is up 7.8% on the same point last year. Data released today by UCAS refers to people applying for full-time undergraduate courses and is a snapshot taken at 24 March.

So far this year, 481,784 people have applied to start courses this autumn compared with 446,765 at the same point last year. The figures continue the trend set earlier in the year which also showed a healthy increase.

Anthony McClaran, UCAS Chief Executive said: "At this point in the application cycle it is encouraging to see that application figures are maintaining the strong growth that we saw at the start of the year. As we approach the summer, with confirmation of exam results and Clearing for those who need another chance to find a place, indications at this stage are that this trend will continue."

When considering this year's applicant numbers it is important to remember that the NMAS service for nursing and midwifery diploma courses has been incorporated into UCAS for the first time - 10,482 people have so far applied solely to courses that were previously available through NMAS. However, even when these applicants are excluded from the overall total, the number of people applying is still up by 5.5%.

Social class (table 9)

Nationally, data on the socio-economic background of all UK applicants aged 18 years and under shows that 29.9% were from the lower socio-economic groups (4 to 7) at this point in the cycle compared 29.2% in 2007.

The proportion of applicants from England classified in the lower socio-economic groups has risen from 28.7% at this point in 2007 to 29.6% in 2008.

The general profile of applicants who would have previously applied through NMAS affects the socio-economic figures for England as most NMAS applicants are: women; English (and all NMAS courses were offered in England); aged 25 years and over and are classified as coming from lower socio-economic groups.

When excluding people who applied solely to courses that would have been offered through NMAS, the proportion of applicants from England classified in the lower socio-economic groups has risen from 28.7% at this point in 2007 to 29.4% in 2008.

Some caution needs to be exercised in comparing socio-economic figures as the question asked of applicants changed between 2007 and 2008 to take account of changing age legislation. This is detailed in table 9 below.

Subject choices (table 7)

Law remains the preferred subject choice followed by psychology, regaining its traditional second place from pre-clinical medicine which in turn falls to third. Design studies has risen up the subject table since January to fourth place ahead of management studies.

Design studies displaces English studies to sixth - this could be expected at this stage in the cycle as some art and design courses follow a different application timetable with a recommended deadline date of 24 March, the same date that this data snapshot was taken.

For 2008 entry, the maximum number of course choices that an applicant can make has changed from six to five. Therefore, table 7 showing the number of choices each subject receives shows a year-on-year fall across nearly all categories.

Gender (table 1)

Females continue to dominate the gender split with a 9.5% increase in applicants from 250,739 to 274,519. The rise in the number of males was less pronounced at 5.7% up from 196,026 to 207,265.

Females make up 57% of university and college applicants. Again, it is important to note that the addition of nursing and midwifery diploma applicants will skew the data for females - excluding these individuals shows a rise of 5.7% in females and 5.2% in males.

Spilt between administrations (table 5)

Wales (down 10.9%) and Northern Ireland (down 5.8%) both show a fall in applicants to institutions in those countries, though the fall for Northern Ireland amounts to a relatively small 1,058 people. Scotland shows a rise of 0.7% and England a rise of 8.3% applicants heading there. England's figures are enhanced by the NMAS inclusion, but excluding these applicants still results in a 5.7% increase.

The fall in applicants heading to Wales is largely due to a 15.1% decrease in English applicants choosing Welsh institutions. Welsh applicants planning to stay in Wales are up 3.0%. Where Scotland has lost applicants from England it has made gains in capturing local applicants and those from the EU and other overseas countries.

Media contacts

Darren Barker

Telephone: 01242 545723

Email: communications@ucas.ac.uk

Out of hours: 07768 740 461

Table 1 - The number of applicants by 24 March; by entry cycle and gender

YearFemale MaleTotal
2008274,519 207,265481,784
2007250,739 196,026446,765
% change9.5% 5.7%7.8%


Table 2 - Applicants by declared Area of Permanent Residence by 24 March

YearEngland WalesScotlandNorthern Ireland Rep. of IrelandOther EU Other overseasTotal
2008355,77518,871 31,14916,0624,78021,867 33,280481,784
2007325,11318,134 30,29716,2845,25620,747 30,934446,765
% change9.4% 4.1%2.8%-1.4%-9.1%5.4% 7.6%7.8%


Table 3 - Applicants by age and declared Area of Permanent Residence by 24 March


 Area of Permanent Residence
UKOther EU Other OverseasTotal
20 years and under 2008343,04720,55425,382 388,983
2007321,85319,207 22,723363,783
% change6.6%7.0% 11.7%6.9%
21 to 24 years 200838,6534,5675,078 48,298
200733,7965,081 5,14244,019
% change14.4%-10.1% -1.2%9.7%
25 years and over 200840,1571,5262,820 44,503
200734,1791,715 3,06938,963
% change17.5%-11.0% -8.1%14.2%
Total 2008421,85726,64733,280 481,784
2007389,82826,003 30,934446,765
% change8.2%2.5% 7.6%7.8%


Table 4 - Applicants by age and UK country of permanent residence by 24 March


 Country of residence
EnglandWales ScotlandNorthern IrelandTotal
20 years and under 2008289,47715,18724,778 13,605343,047
2007269,48914,499 24,07813,787321,853
% change7.4%4.7% 2.9%-1.3%6.6%
21 to 24 years 200832,0731,8223,303 1,45538,653
200727,6071,609 3,1221,45833,796
% change16.2%13.2% 5.8%-0.2%14.4%
25 years and over 200834,2251,8623,068 1,00240,157
200728,0172,026 3,0971,03934,179
% change22.2%-8.1% -0.9%-3.6%17.5%
Total 2008355,77518,87131,149 16,062421,857
2007325,11318,134 30,29716,284389,828
% change9.4%4.1% 2.8%-1.4%8.2%


Table 5 - Applicants by declared area of permanent residence and country of institution by 24 March

Area of permanent residence Country of institution
EnglandWales ScotlandNorthern Ireland
England 2008354,77534,46329,357 1,189
2007324,18640,600 29,9851,184
% change9.4%-15.1% -2.1%0.4%
Wales 200811,64315,868918 66
200711,54315,402 91170
% change0.9%3.0% 0.8%-5.7%
Scotland 20084,45628130,263 145
20074,746342 29,521145
% change-6.1%-17.8% 2.5%0.0%
Northern Ireland 20088,6097965,084 13,832
20078,860977 5,43314,261
% change-2.8%-18.5% -6.4%-3.0%
Rep. of Ireland 20083,3519552,471 1,490
20073,6961,048 2,6931,910
% change-9.3%-8.9% -8.2%-22.0%
Other EU 200820,4001,8696,540 141
200719,2522,131 5,937206
% change6.0%-12.3% 10.2%-31.6%
Other overseas 200832,1203,4026,817 389
200729,8564,179 6,373534
% change7.6%-18.6% 7.0%-27.2%
Total 2008435,35457,63481,450 17,252
2007402,13964,679 80,85318,310
% change8.3%-10.9% 0.7%-5.8%

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.



Table 6 - Applicants by overseas (including non-UK EU) country (> 600 applicants only) by 24 March

Country2008 2007Percent change
Ireland4,7805,256 -9.1%
China4,4853,909 14.7%
Hong Kong2,954 2,8722.9%
Germany2,7132,725 -0.4%
Cyprus2,6192,746 -4.6%
United States of America 2,2092,0806.2%
France2,1962,120 3.6%
Malaysia2,174 1,96110.9%
Poland1,9462,202 -11.6%
Singapore1,777 1,41925.2%
Nigeria1,6322,003 -18.5%
Pakistan1,609 1,648-2.4%
India1,5651,555 0.6%
Greece1,5421,514 1.8%
Canada1,3191,051 25.5%
Sweden1,2511,291 -3.1%
Italy1,069969 10.3%
Bulgaria951462 105.8%
Lithuania948737 28.6%
Norway932748 24.6%
Spain907826 9.8%
Belgium717689 4.1%
Korea (South)691 6703.1%
All overseas (incl. non-UK EU countries) 59,92756,9375.3%


Table 7 - The number of choices by 24 March by JACS 2 subject line and course type (degree, foundation degree and other)

Please note that because of the reduction in available choices for applicants most subjects will show a fall in this table.

Joint Academic Coding System (JACS 2) Subject Line Degree 2008Percent change Found. degree 2008Percent change Other 2008Percent change
M1 - Law by Area82,087 -9.2%61
40 
C8 - Psychology73,054 -10.0%51 43 
A1 - Pre-clinical Medicine 69,029-4.5%     
W2 - Design studies61,007 -4.7%3,865-2.5%925-26.4%
N2 - Management studies 53,658-8.9%692-16.0%2,049 -21.3%
Q3 - English studies51,845 -10.1%11 27 
B7 - Nursing49,613 -10.5%3,10183.7%42,668 2470.4%
NN - Combinations within Business & Admin Studies 46,159-1.2%1,15416.6%739 -6.6%
N1 - Business studies45,092 -13.3%985-15.3%1,041 -16.8%
X1 - Training Teachers43,407 -13.8%221 24 
V1 - History by Period42,653 -6.5%1 16 
C6 - Sports Science41,233 -13.6%2,049-9.1%917-26.8%
L1 - Economics40,538 1.5%    
W4 - Drama40,236 -11.0%1,516-4.2%863-34.3%
L5 - Social Work39,888 -9.8%1,06425.0%8,114-5.3%
G4 - Computer Science39,718 -12.5%1,9110.1%1,373 -25.8%
Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with arts/humanities 38,857-12.0%1,49245.6%212  
Y Combs of languages with arts/humanities 35,286-13.7%  38  
G1 - Mathematics32,715 -7.3%    
B9 - Others in Subjects allied to Medicine 26,936-10.0%324 1,325 12.3%
Y Combs of science/engineering with arts/humanities/languages 26,831-11.4%3,05614.5%226  
N4 - Accounting26,368 -11.1%157 135 
Y Combs of science/engineering with social studies/bus/law 25,724-5.1%73114.2%265  
W6 - Cinematics and Photography 25,124-8.3%2,1251.7%570 -38.7%
K1 - Architecture24,494 -3.9%52 76 
N8 - Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism and Transport 24,262-4.1%2,212-10.5% 1,957-23.0%
H3 - Mechanical Engineering 23,391-5.4%55377.2%229  
L2 - Politics23,354 -8.1%1 31 
B2 - Pharmacology,Toxicology and Pharmacy 23,283-15.8%112 22  
C1 - Biology21,562 -11.2%58 30 
P3 - Media studies20,808 -11.5%1,1869.5%155 
H2 - Civil Engineering20,190 -1.4%155 206 
X3 - Academic studies in Education 20,185-1.8%93718.2%94  
L3 - Sociology19,473 -11.0%6 119 
W3 - Music19,335 -15.2%1,708-2.8%396-39.1%
F1 - Chemistry19,080 -10.9%  18 
Y Combs of soc studies/law with business18,884 -7.2%93 13 
B1 - Anatomy,Physiology and Pathology 18,762-29.9%  87  
Y Combs of phys/math science with social studies/bus/law 17,005-7.9%157 99  
F3 - Physics16,606 -15.4%13   
W1 - Fine Art16,461 -7.9%468 172 
F8 - Physical Geographical Sciences 16,134-9.9%52 28  
H6 - Electronic and Electrical Engineering 16,030-15.9%122 482 -32.4%
N5 - Marketing15,149 -12.4%481-4.9%101 
Y Combs of arts/humanities 15,012-14.9%256 65  
LL - Combinations within Social Studies 14,572-8.5%58 19  
L7 - Human and Social Geography 14,300-6.1%  2  
Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with languages 14,024-13.8%  3  
K2 - Building13,947 -2.9%437 714-6.1%
Z Combs of 3 subjects, or other general courses 13,863-19.2%8 135  
Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences 11,897-11.2%441 68  
WW - Combinations within Creative Arts and Design 11,844-15.4%97924.6%134  
C7 - Molecular Biology,Biophysics & Biochem 11,339-14.0%13 20  
A2 - Pre-clinical Dentistry 10,654-4.1%     
P5 - Journalism10,547 -0.6%389-28.0%14 
G5 - Information Systems 10,074-11.3%501-13.0%381 -24.6%
M9 - Others in Law9,731 -4.7%39 81 
Y Combs of soc studies/law 9,555-17.7%36 3  
H1 - General Engineering 9,413-4.5%68 83  
RR - Combinations within European Langs,Lit and related 9,253-13.6%     
H4 - Aerospace Engineering 8,656-14.6%55115.3%24  
Y Combs of phys/math science with arts/humanities/languages 8,395-16.5%289 122  
Y Combs of languages8,251 -8.5%    
B8 - Medical Technology7,855 -18.3%77   
H8 - Chemical,Process and Energy Engineering 7,777-2.2%5 14  
V5 - Philosophy7,723 -13.7%    
GG - Combinations within Mathematical & Computer Sci 7,304-10.2%152 17  
D1 - Pre-clinical Veterinary Medicine 7,0616.8%     
VV - Combinations within Hist & Philosophical studies 6,806-9.8%6 10  
F4 - Forensic and Archaeological Science6,684 -12.9%209 159 
W5 - Dance6,524 -0.5%173 131 
N3 - Finance6,250 0.3%24 24 
V3 - History by Topic6,206 -4.9%10 1 
F6 - Geology6,137 -7.9%  7 
C3 - Zoology5,676 -11.2%111 11 
B4 - Nutrition5,506 -11.2%  21 
B6 - Aural and Oral Sciences 5,467-22.9%     
F7 - Science of Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments 5,280-11.2%59 24  
Y Combs of sciences with engineering/technology 5,256-16.0%94 35  
J9 - Others in Technology 5,212-7.4%71320.2%315  
V6 - Theology and Religious studies 5,098-12.8%3 49  
G6 - Software Engineering 5,086-4.1%239 106  
PP - Combinations within Mass Comms & Documentation 5,073-16.9%79 16  
Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences with phys/math sciences 5,067-18.0%143 4  
Q8 - Classical studies4,631 -16.8%    
B5 - Ophthalmics4,418 -13.0%93   
R9 - Others in European Langs,Lit and related 4,324-7.0%     
M2 - Law by Topic4,049 -17.4%129 11 
R1 - French studies3,947 -10.4%    
K4 - Planning (Urban,Rural and Regional)3,890 -8.6%15 62 
D3 - Animal Science3,763 -11.0%1,57540.1%271 
L6 - Anthropology3,473 -8.4%    
QQ - Combinations within Linguistics,Classics & related 3,253-9.2%     
P9 - Others in Mass Comms & Documentation3,194 -13.5%20   
Y Combs of phys/math sciences 3,192-8.1%7 29  
T9 - Others in non-European Langs & related 3,006-11.4%     
H7 - Production and Manufacturing Engineering 2,988-17.5%4 10  
L4 - Social Policy2,877 -20.5%477 157 
C9 - Others in Biological Sciences 2,8530.5%11 12  
N6 - Human Resource Management 2,815-12.5%9 38  
B3 - Complementary Medicine 2,689-9.0%272 131  
Q1 - Linguistics2,540 -14.4%    
D4 - Agriculture2,390 -10.8%9187.7%215 
CC - Combinations within Biological Sciences 2,314-15.6%  1  
FF - Combinations within Physical Sciences 2,297-9.0%     
W8 - Imaginative Writing 2,2460.4%10 24  
HH - Combinations within Engineering 2,240-12.6%123 25  
T7 - American studies2,185 -13.8%  1 
N9 - Others in Business & Admin Studies 2,162-16.6%8    
L9 - Others in Social Studies 2,153-9.8%58 33  
V4 - Archaeology2,051 -31.5%25 1 
L0 - Social Studies: any area of study 2,001-18.7%     
C4 - Genetics1,905 -18.8%    
P2 - Publicity studies1,901 -7.1%    
R4 - Spanish studies1,861 -9.2%    
C5 - Microbiology1,685 -21.4%    
W7 - Crafts1,650 -6.3%268 20 
MM - Combinations within Law 1,646-15.7%5 4  
R2 - German studies1,505 -7.7%    
W9 - Others in Creative Arts and Design 1,040-11.5%329 2  
J4 - Polymers and Textiles 1,025-10.4%  5  
T2 - Japanese studies1,016 -4.0%    
Y Combs of engineering/technology 954-17.8%  4  
Y Combs of engin/tech/building studies 8966.2%16 3 
D6 - Food and Beverage studies 816-5.7%142 19  
BB - Combinations within Subjects allied to Medicine 810-19.6%6 9  
J5 - Materials Technology not otherwise spec 778-7.4%17    
KK - Combinations within Architecture,Build & Plan 757-10.0%41 10  
F9 - Others in Physical Sciences 751-11.9%  2  
G3 - Statistics714 -20.4%    
T1 - Chinese studies652 -19.9%    
J7 - Biotechnology637 -12.3%4   
XX - Combinations within Education 600-16.1%30    
F5 - Astronomy589 -15.0%    
P1 - Information Services564 19.7%    
V9 - Others in Hist & Philosophical studies551 -17.3%  2 
Q2 - Comparative Literary studies 537-5.6%     
R0 - European Langs,Lit & related: any area537 -12.4%    
T6 - Modern Middle-Eastern studies 531-19.2%4    
Q5 - Celtic studies528 -24.7%  6 
K3 - Landscape Design505 -18.8%71 11 
J6 - Maritime Technology449 -10.9%40 10 
G0 - Mathematical & Comp Sci: any area 442-19.5%     
R7 - Russian and East European studies406      
H0 - Engineering: any area of study 370 17 3 
V2 - History by Area350      
Q9 - Others in Linguistics,Classics & related 342      
P4 - Publishing335  36   
H5 - Naval Architecture315  26   
G7 - Artificial Intelligence 298 12   
W0 - Creative Arts & Design: any area296      
R3 - Italian studies282      
X9 - Others in Education253  184 1 
G2 - Operational Research248    5 
D9 - Others in Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects 237      
TT - Combinations within non-European Langs & related 224      
F0 - Physical Sciences: any area of study 203      
DD - Combinations within Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects 199      
G9 - Others in Mathematical & Computer Sci133  1 1 
C2 - Botany127      
T5 - African studies114      
C0 - Biological Sciences: any area of study 103      
D7 - Agricultural Sciences 102   39 
D5 - Forestry91  73 11 
R6 - Scandinavian studies83      
J1 - Minerals Technology73      
Q6 - Latin studies72      
T3 - South Asian studies68      
Q4 - Ancient Language studies61      
R8 - European studies61      
K9 - Others in Architecture,Build & Plan 60      
N0 - Business & Admin studies: any area54      
F2 - Materials Science51      
T4 - Other Asian studies32      
N7 - Office Skills29      
J2 - Metallurgy25      
JJ - Combinations within Technology21      
K0 - Architecture,Build & Plan: any area 21      
X2 - Research and Study Skills in Education 15      
Q7 - Classical Greek studies13      
J0 - Technologies: any area of study12      
H9 - Others in Engineering5      
R5 - Portuguese studies3      
V0 - Hist & Philosophical studies: any area 2      
A9 - Others in Medicine and Dentistry     97 
Grand Total 1,914,443-9.8%44,171 8.1%70,022100.3%

Table 7 notes:

Because of the reduction in the number of choices available to applicants in the 2008 cycle most subjects in this table show a fall from 2007.

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.

From 2008 the subject lines reported incorporate recent adjustments made to the Joint Academic Coding System and are now specified on the basis of JACS 2. In addition, subject lines that have previously been reported have been reassessed and altered.

Where changes in subject line have occurred the figures for both 2008 and 2007 have been recalculated so that comparisons are made on a like for like basis. For reporting purposes, the subject lines most affected by JACS 2 changes are:

C2 - Botany
C5 - Microbiology
F7 - Science of Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments
F8 - Physical Geographical Sciences
G0 - Mathematical & Comp Sci: any area
G9 - Others in Mathematical & Computer Sci
J7 - Biotechnology
N2 - Management studies
N8 - Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism and Transport
R8 - European studies (New Subject Line)
R9 - Others in European Langs, Lit and related.

Percentage change is not shown if both the number of 2008 choices and the number of 2007 choices is less than 500



Table 8 - Foundation degree, applicants and applications (number of choices) by 24 March


Applicants Choices
200830,84644,171
200728,66340,870
Percent change7.6%8.1%


Table 9 - Applicants by 24 March who were 18 years and under and who had an area of permanent residence within the UK by entry cycle, simplified version of the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC) and Country of residence

2008 question: If you are in full-time education, please state the occupation of the highest-earning family member of the household in which you live. If he or she is retired or unemployed, give their most recent occupation. If you are not in full-time education, please state just your own occupation.

Restricted to applicants aged 18 and under

2008England WalesScotland Northern IrelandTotal Proportion of known
1. Higher managerial and professional occupations 38,7661,6914,4911,110 46,05824.8%
2. Lower managerial and professional occupations 48,3542,7325,4832,047 58,61631.5%
3. Intermediate occupations 21,0151,0772,3151,243 25,65013.8%
4. Small employers and own account workers 11,8807611,27290714,820 8.0%
5. Lower supervisory and technical occupations 7,5494588554119,273 5.0%
6. Semi-routine occupations 18,2929921,94275721,983 11.8%
7. Routine occupations 7,6955558024789,530 5.1%
8. Not Classified - Unknown 29,5431,8053,1001,147 35,595 
Total183,094 10,07120,2608,100 221,525 

2007 question: If you are under 21, please give the occupation of your parent, step-parent or guardian who earns the most. If he or she is retired or unemployed, give their most recent occupation. If you are 21 or over, please give your own occupation.

Restricted to applicants aged 18 and under

2007England WalesScotland Northern IrelandTotal Proportion of known
1. Higher managerial and professional occupations 37,9161,7694,4441,010 45,13925.4%
2. Lower managerial and professional occupations 46,1062,6335,3442,128 56,21131.7%
3. Intermediate occupations 19,7001,1552,2241,227 24,30613.7%
4. Small employers and own account workers 11,2377131,3311,00214,283 8.0%
5. Lower supervisory and technical occupations 7,1784939214439,035 5.1%
6. Semi-routine occupations 16,1069181,83378219,639 11.1%
7. Routine occupations 7,1315467544998,930 5.0%
8. Not Classified - Unknown 26,8431,4932,7411,130 32,207
Total172,217 9,72019,5928,221 209,750


The applicant's age is as at 30 September of the reporting year.

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.

  • The next snapshot of figures for the current 2008 cycle will be issued in July.

  • Data on the number of applications (choices made) to individual institutions can be found in the 24 March applications digest. Please note that because of the reduction in available choices for applicants most universities and colleges will show a fall in this table.