5,500 Students Missing From 2003 UCAS Process

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 11th Aug 2003

UCAS figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that the proportion of young people in England applying for higher education is failing to keep pace with demographic trends. The figures suggest that almost 5,500 fewer 18-20 year olds are now choosing not go to university. This is in contrast to figures for applications from Scottish students, who after pressure from the Liberal Democrats do not have to pay tuition fees.

Between 2002 and 2003, the number of 18-20 year olds in England was predicted by the Government Actuarial Department to rise by 3.2%. In Scotland the increase was expected to be 2.1%. The rise in English applicants between 2002 and 2003 was only 1.6%. The rise amongst Scottish applicants over the same period was 5.7%. This suggests that nearly 5,500 English applicants are missing from this year's process.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Higher Education spokesperson, David Rendel MP, said:

"All the research shows that young people are being put off applying for university places by tuition fees and the threat of top-up fees.

"Now we have clear proof that the proportion of school-leavers applying for university has gone down in England, but is generally rising in Scotland where tuition fees have been abolished.

"These figures suggest that the Government will not be able to hit their participation target unless they follow Scotland's example, and abolish all fees for tuition throughout the UK. Introducing top-up fees would be the worst thing they could do.

"Only in Scotland, where the Liberal Democrats have forced through the abolition of tuition fees, are young people being encouraged to go to university and get the skills they will need in the future."