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The number of UK 18-year-olds from the most disadvantaged backgrounds applying to the most selective universities and courses is the highest on record.

The number of UK 18-year-olds applying for the most selective university courses has fallen slightly, following last year’s record high.

By Clare Marchant, Chief Executive of UCAS.

By Clare Marchant, Chief Executive of UCAS.

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Please note: Your students can start their UCAS undergraduate application for 2023 courses from 17 May 2022.

The number of UK 18 year olds from the most disadvantaged backgrounds applying to the most selective universities and courses has jumped 8% this year. This compares to a 1% rise for students from the most advantaged backgrounds applying by the 15 October application deadline.

A record 395,770 students, up 8% from 365,500 in 2020, have a confirmed place on their first choice of full-time undergraduate course in the UK. This represents 91% of everyone with a confirmed place, an increase from 88% last year.

Over the last decade there has been a significant shift in the willingness of students to talk about their mental health – the number of UK applicants to UCAS that shared a mental health condition has increased by 450% in this time, yet today’s report, 'Starting the Conversation: UCAS report on student mental health', shows there is still more work to do to smash the myths and stigma around mental health, and to highlight the support available to students in higher education.

Two in five students at university say they would have made better choices had they had better access to higher quality information and advice in school.

Students are being aspirational with their university choices for next autumn, with more applying for some of the most competitive courses.

Students applying for degree courses that start in autumn 2021 should be ambitious with their choices, following no substantial rise in deferrals in 2020, with universities ready to be flexible when considering applications.

A record 23,710 people have applied to study medicine at university next September, up 6 per cent on last year.

Here’s what you need to know.

Teachers and careers advisers have begun using a brand new UCAS portal, transforming the way they manage and track their students’ university and college applications, as the 2020 cycle launches today.

More people than ever have applied this year for university courses with a 15 October deadline.

Apply for advisers 2019 is now live, so you can set it up, and your students can start their UCAS Undergraduate applications.

Set up tips, dates, and guidance for the opening of Apply 2019.

Figures released by UCAS show a robust start to the university admissions cycle for 2018, with the highest number of applicants to October deadline courses recorded since reporting at this deadline began.

Today UCAS publishes its first statistical release of the 2017 undergraduate cycle, detailing applicant numbers for higher education courses with an early October deadline only.