It's official: university applications are down by 8.7%
Mary Curnas Cook, UCAS's chief executive, appealed for perspective, claiming that the downturn was as much to do with population changes as it was the coalition government's revamped and more expensive university tuition fees. These sentiments were echoed by the spokespersons for University umbrella groups Universities UK, The 1994 Group, and The Russell Group.
Sally Hunt of the Universities and Colleges Union was one of few industry voices to express caution at the downturn, saying that "Today's figures are very worrying and once again highlight the Government's folly in raising tuition fees to as much as £9,000 a year. Other countries are encouraging their best and brightest to get on, not putting up punitive barriers."
However, university chiefs seem largely satisfied that the changes will not alter student desire to attend higher education. Michael Farthing of Sussex University states that "the cuts to funding gave universities little option other than to increase fees and as a result many prospective students have obviously been wary of applying this year. While much good work has been done, it is clear that this message needs to be more widely understood."
