UCAS has recently released their final application figures for 2012 University entry. There has been an overall decrease of 7.4%, but this figure conceals differences across countries, ages and disciplines.
In total, applications from UK applicants are down 8.7%: England 9.9%, Scotland 1.5%, Wales 1.9%, Northern Ireland 4%. EU applications are down 11.2%; with non-EU international applicants up 13.7%. Applications from 18-year-olds are down 3.6%, but are down 11.8% amongst students aged 19 and older (more than half of applicants).
The data proivded on languages is a cause for concern. The number of applications for European Languages, Literature and related disciplines (categorised by UCAS as Group R) are down by 11.2%. However, applications for non-European languages and related disciplines (Group T) are down by 21.5% in 2012, the largest drop of any discipline – and despite concerns from the world of business that future UK economic growth may rely on non-European markets (see our ‘Learning to talk the talk‘ news page).
You can find more information about 2012 university applications on the UCAS website.
News & comment:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-16787948
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/jan/30/uk-university-applications-drop-ucas?newsfeed=true