Record number of students gain university places

18 Jan 2008

In an article published on 17 January 2008 in the Guardian and edited by Donald MacLeodit, it is reported that record numbers of students are gaining university places this year.

"The number of full-time students gaining places at UK universities in 2007 rose to a record 413,430, bouncing back after a decline in the first year of top-up fees.

The 5.8% rise reported today by the universities admissions service, Ucas, was welcomed by vice-chancellors who said universities were working hard to inform students about financial help since the introduction of £3,000 fees in England.

There was a rise of 5.9% for accepted applicants aged 20 and under, a rise of 6.9% for those aged 21 to 24 and a 3.3% rise in those aged 25 and over. While the year-on-year rise for those aged 25 plus was less pronounced, the overall share of this age group remained the same as last year at 10%.

There is also good news for ministers in the percentage of students accepted from the lower socio-economic groups, which increased by 6.9% from 82,245 in 2006 to 87,946 in 2007. The growth of the other groups was marked by a 5.5% rise. The proportion of accepted applicants from the low socio-economic groups has increased from 32.1% in 2006 to 32.4% in 2007."