Going to university was a complicated enough process in the past, but spare a thought for this year’s intake. To quote a popular album from another infamous student era, “the times they are a changin”.
There have been many headlines about the effect of tuition fees on university application figures over the past 24 hours, but within this important local debate we should continue to be mindful of the wider effect of proposed changes on revenue generated from foreign students and Britain’s international reputation.
Figures released this week by UCAS, which apply to most university applications in the UK, reveal that university applications are up on 2010 but the rate of growth is slowing. After a rush in November, the tail off is somewhat surprising as this October is the dawn to the last year of entry before fees rise in England.
Total applicants have risen 5.1% from 555,439 in 2010 to 583,501 this year. Compared to a 19.7% increase between the years 2009 to 2010, and faced with a fee hike in 2012, the rate of growth resembles a trickle rather than the stampede expected.
Older and wiser
According to analysis of the statistics, much of the growth in 2011 has come from older applicants – students from 19 to 24. Among 17 and 18 year olds or school age pupils, there was only an 0.6% increase equivalent or in numbers an 1,544 additional applicants.
Another characteristic is that while home nation numbers have remained relatively steady, 30% of the increase in this year’s student numbers has come from a growth in overseas students, with a 17% increase from other EU states and 7.7% more students from non EU countries.
This growing internationalisation is part of an emerging trend, which has seen the number of students enrolled outside their country of citizenship jump from 0.8m in 1975 to 3.3m in 2008 according to the OECD.
Foreign perception
Last year demand exceeded supply and 22% of applicants to universities were turned down. With applications also increasing, similar problems could occur this year, although BIS has been quick to announce today that additional places have been made available for this year.
It is clear from the latest figures that something is happening in regard to perception about university places. However, it’s not just domestic students that we need to worry about. The attractiveness of the UK within the international student marketplace also needs closer attention and debate around this issue will gather apace.
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