Increase in university applications

The number of people applying to study at university has increased compared to the same time last year, new figures have revealed.

According to UCAS, applications to higher-education institutions for courses starting in September have risen by 9.1%.

These figures also now include applications to nursing and midwifery diploma courses, NMAS, which received submissions from 13,406 people.

The large majority of NMAS applicants were found to be female and aged over 21, UCAS noted.

Overall, 540,108 people have submitted a university application to UCAS in the last academic year, up from 494,842 in June 2007.

'It is hugely encouraging to see that application figures are maintaining the strong growth that we saw at the start of the year,' a UCAS spokesperson said.

This increase follows UCAS findings released in April that revealed applications were 7.8% ahead compared to the same month last year.