Declines in students research

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-40581643

According to an article written by the BBC on the 13^thJuly 2017, the number of people applying for UK university places has fallen by more than 25,000 (4%) on last year, data from the admissions service Ucas shows. The figures show a sharp decline in those applying to study nursing courses – down 19% - and a continued fall in the number of mature students, notably in England and Northern Ireland. The number of EU students planning to study in the UK has fallen by 5%. University leaders said a number of factors could be fulling the fall in applicants, including Brexit, higher fees and funding changes for trainee nurses and midwives. 

The latest Ucas figures show the number of people who had applied to UK universities for the coming academic year by the 30^thof June deadline was 649,700 – compared with 674,890 in 2016.

There have been reductions in applicants from all four countries in the UK. There were:

-437,860 applications from students in England – down 5% from 459,430 last year.

-48,940 from Scotland – down 1% from 49,470

-22,530 from Wales – down 5% from 23,740

-20,290 from Northern Ireland – down 4% from 21,110

Applicants from EU students fell from 51,850 in 2016 to 49,250 this year. 

However, applicants from oversea countries outside of the European Union are up 2%, from 69,300 in 2016 to 70,830 in 2017. 

There has been a significant drop in mature students (those aged 25 and over) in England and Northern Ireland – down 18% (11,190) and 13% (220) respectively.