The number of students applying for a university place is declining following the Tory-Lib Dem Government’s decision to triple tuition fees.
The university think tank million+ has been carrying out some analysis of recent data supplied by the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) on applications for university entry 2013/14. Their analysis highlights that early trends in applications should give cause for concern about a potential decline.
The research highlights a worrying fall in applications. To date for 2013-14 which, if borne out by the end of the application cycle, could represent the lowest number of applications since before 2006.
There has also been a fall of 14% in applications for all courses, excluding applications to Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry, veterinary courses compared to the same point in 2012-13.
Moreover, the demographic decline in the number of 18 year olds does not explain the size of the fall in university acceptances for 2012-13. Nor does it account for the early indications of a fall in applications for 2013-14.
Government ministers, particularly Liberal Democrat ministers, like to claim the increase in tuition fees is not making any difference. But the million+ research demonstrates the damaging impact of the decision by Lib Dem MPs to break their solemn pledge to vote against any increase in tuition fees.
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