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University applications to and from Wales fell 3% this year to the lowest in a decade, despite a new finance package from the Welsh Government.

It is the second year running there has been a drop in numbers wanting to study for a degree putting even greater pressure on an already competitive sector to compete for the best students.

The fall in applications from Wales, the rest of the UK nations and the EU to universities in Wales are revealed in data from university admissions service UCAS.

It comes against a back drop of rising anger and concern about the cost of university and the extent of mounting student debt.

Uncertainty over Brexit also appears to have put off applications from the EU. This year there were 6,960 applications to Welsh universities from the EU, compared with 7,590 last year, an 8% drop, said a UCAS spokesman.

The figures also show there were 21,830 applications from all people in Wales to all UK universities this year, a 3% drop compared to 2017.

At the same time applications from people living in Wales to Welsh universities also fell 3% this year from 37,900 in 2017 to 36,580 - the lowest in a decade. In 2009 46,880 people from Wales applied to university in Wales, with the best year since then in 2011 when more than 47,000 applied.

The number of people applying to universities in Wales from all parts of the UK, EU and outside the EU combined slumped 6% from 103,170 in 2017 to 97, 110 this year - the lowest figure in a decade with the high point in 2011 when there were 112,910 applications to Wales.

Despite the overall fall there has been a very slight rise in the number of 18-year-olds applying for university places

Although numbers of 18-year-olds applying are smaller this year there are 3.2% fewer 18-year-olds in the population of Wales compared to 2017.

This means the application rate (the proportion of all 18-year-olds in Wales applying to university), is up 0.2 percentage points to 32.7% this year, signalling an increase in demand from 18-year-olds to start a degree course.

And the fall in applications has slowed slightly this year.

In 2017 university applications from Wales fell 5% compared to 2016 with fewer 18-year-olds applying to start courses.

There was also a 6% drop in numbers of applications to study at universities in Wales from students across Wales, the UK , EU and outside the EU from 77,750 in 2016 to 72,200 in 2017.

Universities Wales, the body representing the interests of universities in Wales, said in a statement: “Whilst the UCAS figures as of 30 June show a small drop in applications from Welsh domiciled students, these figures are at a very early stage in the final recruitment cycle for courses starting in 2018/19.

"Based on previous experience we expect a significant change in actual acceptance figures in the weeks following A level results and clearing. It is also important to note that there is a demographic dip in the 18-year-old population which will need to be taken into account when looking at this year’s overall figures.

“For any students that are still undecided about their options and are awaiting their exam results, there is still time to apply to university. With the highest student satisfaction levels in the UK and the employability rates of our graduates at consistently high levels, a degree at a Welsh university can provide many young people with the best possible start to a successful future. Universities in Wales will be providing places through clearing and there are advisers waiting to discuss the most suitable options open to them.”