According to the most recent statistics, applications to universities in the UK are down by 9% for the coming academic year. Based on the number of enrolments at this time last year which stood at 76,612, applicants for the coming year are only numbered at 69,724 for 2012.
This information was released after the deadline on October 15 for applications in certain fields such as dentistry, medicine and veterinary medicine at Cambridge and Oxford. As well, these numbers also include students who have a 15 January deadline for other courses.
Based on statements from unions that represent both lecturers and students, Government’s plan which will allow universities to charge as much as £9,000 for students’ tuition fees is scaring off applicants. In addition to higher fees, the Treasury announced last month that the teaching budget will be cut by almost £3 billion over the next four year period. This accounts for 40% of the current budget.
Although government will still be providing financial support for those students from lower income families, it is still too early to note any pattern in this drop in applications. According to David Willetts, Science Minister, going to university should depend on academic ability, not the student’s ability to pay. He also stated that the government would lower the amount of loan repayments to further assist students with educational loans.
In the near future there will be a tour of England in which students and teachers will be shown a video detailing the changes and how this new programme will work. The intent is to prevent further avoidance of making application by understanding the new system. At the moment, there is little faith in government’s promises as the last promise of keeping tuition fees under £6,000 was never fulfilled.
