Ucas Media Release

UCAS Media Release

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 21 October 2009

Provisional final figures for 2009 Following a record-breaking processing year for applications, the provisional final figures for the number of students being accepted into university or college has now been released by UCAS; 477,277 applicants have now had a place confirmed at a university or college this year, an increase of 25,406 (5.6%) on the same point last year. Virginia Isaac, Acting Chief Executive at UCAS said: “This year has been unprecedented in many respects. Significantly increased applications and far more students being accepted at a university or college than ever before. In particular we have seen a notable increase - of 10.1% - in acceptances of students aged 25 and over.” Analysis shows that acceptances are being made with a long term view of the marketplace, countering the challenges certain industries are facing in the current economic climate. Increases in acceptances for degree subjects such as journalism (+15.7%), nursing (+20.0%) and business related courses are contrasting against those that are falling. Those linked with linguistics skills are particularly noticeable in their decline. Many of the science, technology, engineering and maths related subjects, where the Government has made recent investment, have seen an increase in acceptances. Virginia said “The electronic systems supporting Confirmation and Clearing worked particularly smoothly this year, placing students more quickly than in previous years. UCAS is now well placed to develop the service should external circumstances demand it.” “This year we saw a considerable increase in the number of students accepted through Clearing. This confounded predictions that additional places would be limited.” A new feature this year was Adjustment. Each year some applicants pass their exams with better results than expected, exceeding the conditions of their firm choice. The five-day window allowed over 380 students to find an alternative place. Over 40% of applicants had the opportunity to use the scheme. Of a total of 3,600 registrations, 384 were placed in their Adjustment choice, 2,355 reconfirmed with their original choice and 444 were placed in another choice (main scheme, Extra or Clearing). 417 of those who registered were not placed.

Virginia continues: “The new Adjustment process operated smoothly. While only a small number of applicants utilised the service, it gave students, particularly those with more vocational qualifications, the chance to review their options within a secure framework” Table 1 - Applicant statistics - 55 days after the release of A level results 2009

2008

2007

429,705 47,188 384 477,277

408,726 43,145 0 451,871

373,494 38,477 0 411,971

1,987

2,804

2,023

139,520

114,009

103,324

14,808

13,973

14,580

Total number of applicants

633,592

582,657

531,898

Days from publication of GCE results :

55 14/10/0 9

55 08/10/0 8

55 10/10/07

304

306

322

Applicants accepted (1) - having unconditional or confirmed conditional offers - having found a place in Clearing - having been placed using Adjustment -Total number of accepted applicants Applicants with a non-Clearing outcome pending - decision from institution or applicant reply Applicants currently eligible for Clearing - no offers, conditions not met, applied very late Applicants withdrawn from scheme (2)

Comparison date (3) Number of institutions within UCAS membership receiving applications Table 1 notes

•

Includes those deferring entry to the following year. (Applicants are counted in the year in which they apply, not the year in which they intend to begin their course.)

•

Includes those withdrawn after accepting an offer.

•

Comparisons with previous years are made relative to the publication of Advanced level results (20 August 2009, 14 August 2008 and 16 August 2007). For example, figures for Wednesday 14 October 2009, fifty five days after this year's publication date, will be compared with those for Wednesday 08 October 2008 and Wednesday 10 October 2007.

Table 2: Acceptances from applicants by age group and gender

Year 20 years and under

Male

Female

Total

2009

167,169

197,721

364,890

2008

158,155

190,896

349,051

% change 21 to 24 years

5.7%

3.6%

4.5%

2009

28,235

29,682

57,917

2008

26,161

27,178

53,339

% change 25 years and over

7.9%

9.2%

8.6%

2009

20,310

34,160

54,470

2008

18,261

31,220

49,481

% change Total

11.2%

9.4%

10.1%

2009

215,714

261,563

477,277

2008

202,577

249,294

451,871

6.5%

4.9%

5.6%

% change

Table 3: Acceptances by age and UK country Country of residence

20 years and under

21 to 24 years

25 years and over

Total

Scotland

Northern Ireland

15,369

21,887

11,643

325,944

14,257

20,929

11,468

313,194

England

Wales

2009

277,045

2008

266,540

Total

% change

3.9%

7.8%

4.6%

1.5%

4.1%

2009

38,702

2,257

3,545

1,275

45,779

2008

35,439

1,916

3,353

1,216

41,924

% change

9.2%

17.8%

5.7%

4.9%

9.2%

2009

43,543

2,604

3,547

709

50,403

2008

39,100

2,102

3,229

765

45,196

% change

11.4%

23.9%

9.8%

-7.3%

11.5%

2009

359,290

20,230

28,979

13,627

422,126

2008

341,079

18,275

27,511

13,449

400,314

% change

5.3%

10.7%

5.3%

1.3%

5.4%

Table 4: Acceptances by area of domicile and country of accepting institution Area of Permanent

Country of institution

Total

Residence England 2009 2008

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Rep. of Ireland

Other EU

Non EU

Total

England

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland

344,508

9,724

4,783

275

359,290

327,971

8,423

4,411

274

341,079

% change

5.0%

15.4%

8.4%

0.4%

5.3%

2009

5,692

14,393

132

13

20,230

2008

5,492

12,664

109

10

18,275

% change

3.6%

13.7%

21.1%

30.0%

10.7%

2009

1,715

52

27,194

18

28,979

2008

1,768

67

25,654

22

27,511

% change

-3.0%

-22.4%

6.0%

-18.2%

5.3%

2009

3,126

117

1,079

9,305

13,627

2008

3,223

109

1,104

9,013

13,449

% change

-3.0%

7.3%

-2.3%

3.2%

1.3%

2009

1,377

251

781

447

2,856

2008

1,285

200

727

411

2,623

% change

7.2%

25.5%

7.4%

8.8%

8.9%

2009

16,128

830

3,550

20

20,528

2008

14,864

620

3,044

29

18,557

% change

8.5%

33.9%

16.6%

-31.0%

10.6%

2009

27,381

1,128

3,171

87

31,767

2008

25,773

1,035

3,502

67

30,377

% change

6.2%

9.0%

-9.5%

29.9%

4.6%

2009

399,927

26,495

40,690

10,165

477,277

2008

380,376

23,118

38,551

9,826

451,871

% change

5.1%

14.6%

5.5%

3.5%

5.6%

Table 5: Acceptances by overseas country (> 600 Acceptances only)

Country China

2009 6,073

2008 5,969

Percent change 1.7%

France

2,956

2,565

15.2%

Ireland

2,856

2,623

8.9%

Cyprus

2,612

2,329

12.2%

Hong Kong Malaysia

2,562

2,611

-1.9%

2,382

2,033

17.2%

Germany

2,380

2,197

8.3%

India

1,744

1,714

1.8%

Nigeria

1,576

1,813

-13.1%

Greece

1,538

1,660

-7.3%

Bulgaria

1,264

821

54.0%

Poland

1,196

1,500

-20.3%

Singapore

1,196

977

22.4%

United States of America

1,168

1,190

-1.8%

Pakistan

1,068

1,365

-21.8%

Norway

955

779

22.6%

Canada

906

789

14.8%

Romania

896

622

44.1%

Lithuania

891

689

29.3%

Italy

871

695

25.3%

Spain

841

714

17.8%

Sweden

807

785

2.8%

Saudi Arabia All overseas

753

526

43.2%

55,151

51,557

7.0%

Table 6: Acceptances by subject (all subjects)

Degre e 2009 17,346

Perce nt chang e 1.7%

Foun d. degre e 2009 32

Perce nt chang e

W2 - Design studies

16,674

5.5%

1,796

8.4%

C8 - Psychology

15,327

3.4%

44

G4 - Computer Science N2 - Management studies N1 - Business studies

11,328

7.0%

1,000

10,708

-4.1%

382

10,597

3.4%

668

Q3 - English studies

10,374

5.4%

16

NN - Combinations within Business & Admin Studies C6 - Sports Science

10,311

11.4%

539

58.5%

227

9,274

3.9%

1,085

19.2%

424

Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with arts/humanities

8,677

8.4%

921

40.0%

86

B7 - Nursing

8,600

20.0%

297

Joint Academic Coding System (JACS 2) Subject Line M1 - Law by Area

Other 2009 24

Perce nt chang e

344 26

8.0%

34.4%

715

-0.8%

886

0.2%

555

23.3%

12

16,11 0

15.8%

V1 - History by Period

8,510

5.0%

1

11

A1 - Pre-clinical Medicine Y Combs of languages with arts/humanities

7,967

-0.6%

7,800

4.8%

X1 - Training Teachers

7,624

0.9%

320

L5 - Social Work

7,590

6.2%

1,192

25.5%

1,709

2.6%

N8 - Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism and Transport B9 - Others in Subjects allied to Medicine

7,323

8.4%

1,313

19.5%

626

-2.6%

7,188

10.7%

448

899

33.8%

L1 - Economics

7,058

2.8%

G1 - Mathematics

6,908

7.6%

W6 - Cinematics and Photography

6,448

11.0%

1,050

N4 - Accounting

6,382

3.1%

96

Y Combs of science/engineering with arts/humanities/langua ges W4 - Drama

6,379

9.4%

1,450

31.2%

152

6,353

4.7%

694

13.8%

415

X3 - Academic studies in Education

6,228

8.3%

804

-0.7%

54

Y Combs of science/engineering with social studies/bus/law H3 - Mechanical Engineering

5,833

-3.7%

441

91

5,757

11.9%

338

104

Z Combs of 3 subjects, or other general courses L2 - Politics

5,229

-0.2%

3

43

5,195

9.4%

P3 - Media studies

5,141

8.0%

348

66

L3 - Sociology

4,760

4.0%

42

102

C1 - Biology

4,664

2.0%

13

21

H6 - Electronic and Electrical Engineering

4,654

3.7%

71

226

W1 - Fine Art

4,635

2.8%

227

68

W3 - Music

4,482

3.0%

602

H2 - Civil Engineering

4,432

3.2%

86

145

K1 - Architecture

4,349

3.9%

50

15

B2 Pharmacology,Toxicol ogy and Pharmacy

4,322

6.1%

52

3

Y Combs of arts/humanities

3,921

7.9%

190

25

N5 - Marketing

3,889

6.0%

95

55

16 63

27.7%

202 40

42

-1.3%

166

F1 - Chemistry

3,885

-3.0%

59

12

Y Combs of phys/math science with social studies/bus/law

3,749

-2.9%

136

7

F3 - Physics

3,559

7.0%

14

F8 - Physical Geographical Sciences

3,518

7.3%

18

15

K2 - Building

3,506

-3.4%

338

444

B1 Anatomy,Physiology and Pathology Y Combs of soc studies/law with business WW - Combinations within Creative Arts and Design H1 - General Engineering G5 - Information Systems Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences

3,389

5.1%

3,332

-4.9%

32

3,282

10.5%

554

3,261

3.1%

24

74

3,165

4.9%

409

187

3,076

13.8%

283

16

LL - Combinations within Social Studies

2,745

2.3%

130

57

Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with languages

2,725

-5.2%

L7 - Human and Social Geography

2,725

-1.4%

P5 - Journalism

2,675

15.7%

144

21

M9 - Others in Law

2,650

11.8%

63

104

Y Combs of phys/math science with arts/humanities/langua ges C7 - Molecular Biology,Biophysics & Biochem

2,285

6.5%

179

97

2,239

-5.0%

10

25

Y Combs of soc studies/law

2,137

-2.5%

88

8

GG - Combinations within Mathematical & Computer Sci

2,110

13.7%

135

2

H4 - Aerospace Engineering

2,016

20.7%

216

8

B8 - Medical Technology F4 - Forensic and Archaeological Science J9 - Others in Technology

1,924

10.2%

33

1,862

12.2%

124

57

1,836

19.0%

358

66

31 2 9.7%

64

2

H8 - Chemical,Process and Energy Engineering RR - Combinations within European Langs,Lit and related

1,826

11.0%

12

1,815

3.2%

V5 - Philosophy

1,599

12.6%

Y Combs of languages

1,573

-7.2%

F6 - Geology

1,524

8.7%

G6 - Software Engineering Y Combs of sciences with engineering/technology Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences with phys/math sciences VV - Combinations within Hist & Philosophical studies

1,466

4.5%

134

62

1,428

-4.5%

89

74

1,421

1.4%

69

16

1,355

0.1%

10

1

C3 - Zoology

1,354

10.5%

67

1

N3 - Finance

1,323

-7.9%

1

7

V3 - History by Topic

1,318

-1.2%

11

7

F7 - Science of Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments

1,310

-5.5%

82

51

A2 - Pre-clinical Dentistry B3 - Complementary Medicine

1,217

0.6%

1,200

-9.9%

276

23

V6 - Theology and Religious studies

1,193

-7.7%

28

14

W5 - Dance

1,179

13.1%

113

67

B4 - Nutrition

1,154

3.6%

D3 - Animal Science

1,113

17.5%

763

C9 - Others in Biological Sciences

1,083

25.5%

54

8

M2 - Law by Topic

1,048

-5.5%

112

10

PP - Combinations within Mass Comms & Documentation

987

-13.1%

35

15

K4 - Planning (Urban,Rural and Regional) Q8 - Classical studies

951

-11.1%

19

49

901

1.8%

B6 - Aural and Oral Sciences

891

-2.0%

D1 - Pre-clinical Veterinary Medicine

886

-6.6%

L4 - Social Policy

882

1.1%

435

86

5

5 9.5%

145

B5 - Ophthalmics

812

5.9%

49

R1 - French studies

797

2.2%

R9 - Others in European Langs,Lit and related D4 - Agriculture

795

-13.0%

782

15.3%

766

W8 - Imaginative Writing P9 - Others in Mass Comms & Documentation Y Combs of phys/math sciences

780

28.1%

11

6

776

-8.6%

12

1

752

-2.5%

L6 - Anthropology

692

-1.0%

N9 - Others in Business & Admin Studies H7 - Production and Manufacturing Engineering N6 - Human Resource Management

678

22.8%

4

661

-10.4%

3

654

-10.7%

HH - Combinations within Engineering

648

19.8%

QQ - Combinations within Linguistics,Classics & related FF - Combinations within Physical Sciences L9 - Others in Social Studies

633

-0.2%

606

9.6%

596

Q1 - Linguistics

21.8%

197

32

7 7

66

14

-1.2%

48

20

542

-18.0%

9

W9 - Others in Creative Arts and Design P2 - Publicity studies

530

20.5%

213

520

9.9%

W7 - Crafts

513

-4.6%

CC - Combinations within Biological Sciences T7 - American studies

508

25.7%

499

-10.9%

V4 - Archaeology

499

-6.4%

L0 - Social Studies: any area of study

474

C4 - Genetics

433

F9 - Others in Physical Sciences

391

MM - Combinations within Law

391

R4 - Spanish studies

390

1 2

146

25

26 1

33

2

C5 - Microbiology

379

Y Combs of engineering/technology

363

XX - Combinations within Education

349

T9 - Others in nonEuropean Langs & related R2 - German studies

317

J4 - Polymers and Textiles D6 - Food and Beverage studies

277

4

276

155

13

R8 - European studies

251

T2 - Japanese studies

222

BB - Combinations within Subjects allied to Medicine

220

3

14

H5 - Naval Architecture

209

10

J5 - Materials Technology not otherwise spec K3 - Landscape Design Y Combs of engin/tech/building studies KK - Combinations within Architecture,Build & Plan Q2 - Comparative Literary studies

209

12

205

52

204

11

189

24

G3 - Statistics

174

F5 - Astronomy

156

P1 - Information Services T1 - Chinese studies

156

J6 - Maritime Technology V9 - Others in Hist & Philosophical studies

151

G0 - Mathematical & Comp Sci: any area

137

Q5 - Celtic studies

136

J7 - Biotechnology

130

H0 - Engineering: any area of study

125

T6 - Modern MiddleEastern studies

125

196 51.20 %

284

12

181

154 5

1

143

6

R7 - Russian and East European studies

109

W0 - Creative Arts & Design: any area

109

R0 - European Langs,Lit & related: any area TT - Combinations within non-European Langs & related

96

V2 - History by Area

91

P4 - Publishing

86

R3 - Italian studies

78

F0 - Physical Sciences: any area of study DD - Combinations within Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects

73 69

11

G7 - Artificial Intelligence Q9 - Others in Linguistics,Classics & related

61

5

X9 - Others in Education G2 - Operational Research D5 - Forestry

53

X2 - Research and Study Skills in Education G9 - Others in Mathematical & Computer Sci

49

T3 - South Asian studies D9 - Others in Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects J2 - Metallurgy

48

J1 - Minerals Technology T5 - African studies

31

D7 - Agricultural Sciences A9 - Others in Medicine and Dentistry

30

C2 - Botany

19

Q4 - Ancient Language studies

17

94

22

55

243

52 50

103

1

1

28

48

37 37

31

19

23

JJ - Combinations within Technology

15

N7 - Office Skills

14

N0 - Business & Admin studies: any area

13

R6 - Scandinavian studies C0 - Biological Sciences: any area of study T4 - Other Asian studies Q6 - Latin studies

13

H9 - Others in Engineering K0 - Architecture,Build & Plan: any area

9

K9 - Others in Architecture,Build & Plan F2 - Materials Science

5

J0 - Technologies: any area of study

3

R5 - Portuguese studies Q7 - Classical Greek studies

3

Grand Total

8

12 11 10 15

8

4

1 425,52 2

4.6%

24,61 7

19.9%

27,13 8

11.5%

Table 6 notes Foundation year courses are accounted for as Degree. 'Other' includes HND, HNC, Certificates of HE, Diplomas of HE (including those in social work, midwifery and nursing) and some postgraduate courses in social work. Percentage change is not shown if both the number of 2009 choices AND the number of 2008 choices is less than 500. Ends UCAS is a charity and is the world’s leading shared admissions service for higher education. We manage applications for full time undergraduate courses, together with applications through GTTR (Graduate Teacher Training Registry), CUKAS (Conservatoires UK Admissions Service) and UKPASS (UK Postgraduate Application and Statistical Service). Since its inception in 1993, UCAS has processed around 30 million applications and placed over 5 million students on higher education courses. Services include: • • •

An informative website (www.ucas.com) enabling students and parents to access a wealth of information designed to help their application to higher education run smoothly. A state-of-the-art contact centre (0871 468 0468) providing a point of contact for students, schools and higher education institutions. An online application system. A simple, straightforward tracking service enabling students and schools advisors to access up-to-date information about their applications at the click of a button.

•

Over 50 higher education events each year providing 250,000 students with face-to-face advice on the UCAS process. Internationally, we participated in events in over 12 countries and also provided training and professional development throughout Europe and beyond.

Media contacts Charlotte Knowles, Senior Corporate Communications Executive Darren Barker, Corporate Communications Officer James Durant, Corporate Communications Officer Telephone: 01242 544987 or 01242 545723 Email: [email protected] Out of hours: 07768 740461