The number of people applying to university has significantly dropped for the second year in a row. (Picture: Getty)

The number of people applying to university has significantly dropped for the second year in a row.

According to new figures, just over 5,000 fewer people (0.9%) applied to start degree courses this autumn by January 15, compared to the same point last year.

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The decline is said to be due to the drop in the number of 18-year-olds in the country, Ucas said.

But at the same time as this decline, there’s been an increase in overseas students, with the numbers of international applicants from the EU rising above 100,000 for the first time this year.


Overall, 559,030 would-be students applied to start degree courses at UK universities this autumn by the key January deadline, 5,160 fewer (0.9%) than the same point in 2017.

At the same time as this decline, there’s been an increase in overseas student s(Picture: Getty)

A breakdown shows that there were 12,420 fewer UK applicants, a 2.6% drop compared to last year.



Most of this comes from a drop in 18 and 19-year-olds submitting applications, accounting for 70% of the fall in UK applicants, Ucas said.

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The rest was from fewer people aged 20 and over applying.

Meanwhile, there was a total of 58,450 people from nations outside the EU applying by the January deadline, up 11.1%, along with 43,510 from EU countries (a 3.4% increase) – taking the total numbers to above 100,000 for the first time.

It means that overall, nearly a fifth (18%) of those who applied for degree courses by this point were from outside the UK.

UK applicants applying to university 2017 564,190 2018 559,030 Share

Last year, there was a drop in the number of EU students planning to study at a UK university following Brexit.

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of vice-chancellors’ group Universities UK, said: ‘This small drop in applicant figures can be attributed largely to the fall in the number of 18-year-olds across the UK population. This group makes up half of all UK applicants to universities.

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‘But the demand for courses from 18-year-olds across the UK remains strong, highlighting the continued demand for university education.’

Mr Jarvis added that the increase in international applications shows that the UK “remains one of the most attractive destinations in the world” for overseas students.

‘It is worth remembering that Ucas undergraduate application figures provide only a partial picture of what is going on in relation to international students.

Last year, there was a drop in the number of EU students planning to study at a UK university following Brexit. (Picture: Getty)

‘Nearly a half of international (non-EU) students study at postgraduate level, so will not apply via the Ucas undergraduate route. Of those who study at undergraduate level, only around 60% are accepted via the Ucas route.’

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Ucas chief executive Clare Marchant said: ‘Today’s figures show that UK higher education continues to be a highly popular choice for 18-year-olds, and draws students of all ages from around the world to the UK.

‘However, the application data also highlights continuing falls in demand from older students and to nursing courses in England.

‘These are challenges for everyone involved in higher education to work on together. We must continually seek to evaluate what works well, and what doesn’t.’

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