12,250 'MISSING' UNIVERSITY APPLICANTS

1.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 21st Jul 2004

The proportion of young people in England applying for higher education is failing to keep pace with demographic trends, according to research released today at Prime Minister's questions by David Rendel MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Higher Education.

According to the latest figures from UCAS, the number of 18-20 year olds applying to go to university increased by 2.8% in 2004 compared to 2002. But the Government Actuarial Department projects that the total number in this age group has increased by 6.1%.

If the number of university applicants had kept pace, there would have been an additional 8,190 opting to go to university in 2004. This comes on top of a fall of 4060 in the number of expected applications last year, making a total of 12,250 over two years.

Commenting, David Rendel MP, said:

"The proportion of English school-leavers applying to go to university has fallen in each of the last two years. In total 12,250 young people have dropped out of the process.

"How can Ministers still ignore the conclusions of their own research, that tuition fees and the introduction of top-up fees are putting people off the idea of going to university?"

ENDS.

1. This research contradicts the Higher Education Minister's statement in Parliament on 14 July 2004 (Official Report, 11th Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, Columns 12-13). He cited the latest UCAS figures in support of his contention that tuition fees and top-up fees do not deter potential students from participation in higher education. These figures show that the proportion of school-leavers opting for university is on the decline, not increasing as the Government claim.

2. In answer to David Rendel's question today, the Prime Minister failed to give any explanation for the decline in the proportion of English school-leavers applying to university.