Increase in International Student Applications

The latest university application figures for UK courses starting in 2012 have been revealed by UCAS, showing an increase in non-EU students. Whilst British and European applicants have fallen by 7.6% and 11% respectively, international student applications have risen by 13% compared to the same time last year.

With tuition fees tripling for UK and EU students from 2012 onwards, there has been a particular focus on application figures this year. The latest statistics show the number of undergraduate applications made by the middle of December 2011, and there are certainly some interesting changes since the same time in 2010.

EU and British Students Unsure

For EU students, the huge increases in fees have clearly had a negative impact. Applications to institutions in England, Ireland and Wales (all of which have fees of up to £9,000) have dropped by an average of almost 15%, whilst applicants to Scottish universities (which offer free tuition to EU students) have actually increased by 7.6%. This is matched by a similar trend in British students who also appear to be reluctant to apply with the increased fees.

With the application deadline looming (January 15th is the cut off point for most courses), these figures appear worrying for UCAS. However, there is a slight caveat. Since the previous statistics were revealed in November, the decrease in applications has actually fallen. Whilst the November statistics showed a 15% fall, that has now halved to 7.6% for British students. This suggests that the increased fees have made prospective candidates take longer to make a decision, but ultimately may not be putting them off actually applying as much as expected. Indeed, Mary Curnock Cook, UCAS chief executive, said:

"Evidence of a late surge as the 15 January deadline approaches is now emerging. Applicants are taking longer to research their choices but the applications flow has speeded up, as these statistics show."

International Applicants Continue to Rise

In contrast to EU and UK applications, non-EU students appear as keen as ever to study in the UK. Students from outside the EU have always paid very high tuition fees, and the latest increases have not affected them. The effects can clearly be seen in the latest statistics, which show an overall 13% increase in undergraduate applications.

Increases can be seen in almost every global area, with Hong Kong (up a massive 30%) and Australasia (up 22%) appearing especially strong. However, unlike other students, the January deadline does not apply to non-EU students, and therefore the statistics are even more difficult to analyse.

Overall, as the deadline approaches, still no one is quite sure of the impact the tuition fees have had quite yet. Will there be a late surge from EU and British applicants? Will the eagerness from non-EU students continue or will it drift off? Only time will tell.

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