Press Release

University think-tank Million+ - 2007 UCAS figures

17 January 2008

The university think tank Million+ has urged that the 2007 figures for higher education applications and acceptances published by UCAS, the university admissions service are judged against an increasing number of 18 year olds in the population.

Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of Million+ said “The 2007 social trends population data published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) confirm that between 2001 and 2005 the number of 16-24 year olds in the population increased by over half a million (579,000). ONS has also predicted that this age group will increase by an additional 248,000 in the period from 2005–2011. It would therefore be extremely disappointing if UCAS applications and acceptances had not increased in 2007 although this is not to detract from the work of universities in encouraging participation.

2005 is a better comparator year for the 2007 statistics, bearing in mind the impact of variable fees upon applications in England in 2006. Once this comparison is made we get a much more sober picture. The 2007 UCAS statistics confirm that there were just 1,320 more applicants accepted for university places in the 20 and under age group and 1,180 more applicants accepted for university places in the 21-24 year age group compared to 2005. The figures also confirm that the number of accepted applicants for those over 25 (mature applicants) rose by only 400 in 2007 compared to 2005. In view of the Government’s commitment to educational opportunities, it has to be a concern that participation by mature students is not increasing at a faster rate. The 2007 figures also suggest that the failure of over 100,000 applicants to translate their interest in higher education into acceptances has continued. The reasons for this requires much more research and could be a key to increasing access to higher education.

However, the number of UCAS applications and acceptances are not the real indicator of success in encouraging participation in higher education. This can only be judged by the number of actual enrolments. Enrolments for the 2007 UCAS figures will not be reported until January 2008. The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) reported (10 January 2008) that the number of first-time enrolments in English HEIs decreased by 2% in 2006/07, notwithstanding the increase in numbers in this age group. The UK is therefore some way from reaching the levels of participation in higher education achieved by other OECD countries”.