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As many as 50,000 students will be denied university places this summer amid record demand for degree courses.
New figures from admissions service Ucas today show almost 600,000 people have applied to start university courses this year, up from 540,000 in 2008 — a 10 per cent rise.
To deal with the increase in demand ministers have approached the Treasury to fund the extra places. At present a cap caused by a £200 million budget shortfall means universities can take on only 3,000 more students.
The figures are the latest desperate news for young people. Unemployment among graduates has risen sharply in the economic downturn and top companies are cutting back on graduate jobs.
But today the figures show many will struggle to get onto courses in the first place. Shadow universities minister David Willetts said ministers were “sleepwalking into a crisis”. He said: “Young people are becoming the biggest victims of this recession. The number not in education, employment or training is at record levels. Now we are on course to have a record number refused a university place.”
The rise in demand is thought to have been fuelled by unemployed workers and those returning to education to improving their skills during the recession.
The crunch point is likely to come in the annual “clearing” process, when students who fail to get the A-level grades they need for their chosen courses are matched to vacant places at other universities. Analysts fear the number of places available through clearing will be cut by two-thirds from 2008 levels.
Universities minister David Lammy said :“This year we expect that there will be 40,000 more accepted applicants than three years ago. We will work with the sector to support those who do not and to manage demand.”
Reader views (8)
Well, Jacob, we can see you didn't study English at University. Did you study at University at all? Or do you just inherently dislike students?
- Jock, London, 09/07/2009 17:13
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Some of the students at University are only there to delay joining the real world,have fun and avoid washing,-sadly assuming they are more intelligent then they really are,-that's the real tragedy.
- Jacob, Canterbury England, 09/07/2009 16:49
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Three words: The Open University.
- Morando Morandi, London, 09/07/2009 15:04
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The article does not mention whether supply is similarly restricted for students from outside the EU, who pay much higher fees than UK or EU students, and are a major source of revenue for universities. Anyone have any data on this?
- Richard, Madrid, Spain, 09/07/2009 14:55
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The degree industry (for that is what it has become) has spiralled out of control under successive governments. Yes more people are getting degrees than ever before but many of them are worth little more than an additional 'A' level (e.g. media, sports science, etc.). These degrees only lead to debt and do not really improve job chances.
The whole system needs a revamp with maybe the top 25% going onto university and receiving grants. Otherwise it is likely to implode on itself!
- Man U Fan, London, 09/07/2009 13:49
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Ross from London seems to be under the impression that if you applied to university 15 yrs ago you automatically got a place. Sorry, but you only got a place if you had the relevant grades at A Level. If you didn't, you went through "clearing" and there was NO guarantee of a place through clearing. Nothing has changed in that sense. The people supposedly "missing out" this year are those who don't get good enough grades. If a school leaver gets the grades asked for by their Uni then they will get a place. If not then they go through clearing and there has NEVER been a place for everyone going through clearing. In reality, if they don't get high enough grades then they probably should't be going to University anyway. It's NOT an entitlement!!
- Malcolm, London, 09/07/2009 13:41
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The Welsh universities are not restricted in the number of students they take so if people are unable to secure a place in England they may need to look across the border.
- Prototypical Englishman, Wormwood Scrubs, 09/07/2009 12:22
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It is awful for those students who are able and intelligent, who don't get into their preferred universities, simply because demand exceeds supply. It doesn't seem right that had that same student been able to apply say 15 years ago, they would have got a place at their university but not today, the only difference being the number of applicants.
- Ross, London, UK, 09/07/2009 11:28
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