Student Applications for Next Academic Year Increase at UK Universities

76,940 people in total have applied to begin an undergraduate course with an early application deadline (October 15, 2020) in the United Kingdom, according to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

This deadline has been set for all those persons aiming to start courses in Autumn 2021 at the two well-known universities in the UK,  the University of Oxford or Cambridge University. Whereas, the deadline for all other courses including medicine, dentistry or veterinary at other UK universities and colleges is January 15, 2021.

In October, the number of applicants has increased across the UK to reach the figure of 54,220, up 14 per cent in 2020. This increase in applications has been noted within every age group.

2,800 applicants aged 18, from the most disadvantaged backgrounds in the United Kingdom, have applied, marking a record number with an increase of 19 per cent.

Moreover, the number of international applicants from non-EU countries has also increased by 20 per cent, reaching the figure of 17,510 applicants. As per EU applicants, the number of them has dropped to 5,220, from 6,480 which was last year.

The number of applicants in medicine courses has also increased to 28,690, with almost 5,000 more applicants.

UCAS Chief Executive, Clare Marchant, expressed satisfaction over the increase in the number of students with aspirations for their professional future even amid the Corona pandemic.

“The marked increase in students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds applying is especially welcome, particularly as universities are ready to use the contextual data available to them when considering applications”, she said.

According to her, the good work of National Health Service (NHS) in 2020 has pushed students to apply for medicine courses, also encouraging many of them to become part of the recovery process while emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among others, she claimed that the guidance of teachers, universities and colleges during the challenging times triggered by the Corona pandemic had a good impact.

Despite this, Marchant added that UCAS online events, live questions and answers, social media engagement and more, have provided support for students while they take important decisions for their future careers.

‘We’re ready to support all students with their next steps, providing the information they need to make an informed decision, whether that be an undergraduate application, an apprenticeship, or researching alternative options.’

Despite COVID-19 developments, the latest figures published by UCAS has shown that the number of international admissions at UK universities has increased by 9 per cent, reaching 44,300 students in total.