First figures for 2008 entry - covering medicine, dentistry, veterinary sciences and Oxford and Cambridge applicants

31 October 2007

The first release of data on the number of applicants applying for full-time higher education courses that start in 2008 show that overall, the number of people applying is up 0.9% from 59,983 at this point last year to 60,532. The number of applicants from outside the UK are up 5.2%, whilst those from the UK are down 0.1% - equivalent to a fall of 69 people.

The snapshot which is taken early in the cycle of university and college applications coincides with the October deadline for those wishing to study on medicine, dentistry or veterinary sciences courses. This early deadline also applies to those wishing to study at Oxford or Cambridge universities.

Medicine applicants are down 1.8% and dentistry applicants are down 3.8%. Meanwhile the number of people applying for veterinary medicine and science courses is up 10.5%.

Applicants hoping to study at Oxford and Cambridge universities are up 0.5% from 27,818 last year to 27,958 this year.

Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive of UCAS said: "Today's data shows a continued steady increase in the number of applicants overall and a very slight fall in UK applicants. This pattern is similar to that of the past four years at this point in the cycle. It is important to remember that we are still early in the application cycle so any data at this point is of limited predictive value".

The deadline for applications to all other courses is 15 January. However, universities and colleges may accept applications after this date

Table 1
Applicants through UCAS to Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary medicine/science by the October deadline by area of permanent residence and gender.

Applicants UKEU excluding (UK)
MenWomenTotalMen WomenTotal
Medicine 20086,6938,47515,168 5859501,535
20076,7748,748 15,5226151,0061,621
% change-1.20%-3.10% -2.30%-4.90%-5.60%-5.30%
Difference-81-273 -354-30-56-86

Other Overseas All

MenWomenTotal MenWomenTotal
20088451,099 1,9448,12310,52418,647
20078221,029 1,8518,21110,78318,994
% change2.80%6.80% 5.00%-1.10%-2.40%-1.80%
Difference2370 93-88-259-347

Applicants UKEU excluding (UK)
MenWomenTotalMen WomenTotal
Dentistry 20081,2091,3882,597 70112182
20071,2241,463 2,68783114197
% change-1.20%-5.10% -3.30%-15.70%-1.80%-7.60%
Difference-15-75 -90-13-2-15

Other Overseas All

MenWomenTotal MenWomenTotal
200880136 2161,3591,6362,995
2007106124 2301,4131,7013,114
% change-24.50%9.70% -6.10%-3.80%-3.80%-3.80%
Difference-2612 -14-54-65-119

Applicants UKEU excluding (UK)
MenWomenTotalMen WomenTotal
Veterinary medicine / science 200835613381,69448 193241
20073281218 1,54641178219
% change8.50%9.90% 9.60%17.10%8.40%10.00%
Difference28120 14871522

Other Overseas All

MenWomenTotal MenWomenTotal
200813101 1144171,6322,049
2007147690 3831,4721,855
% change-7.10%32.90% 26.70%8.90%10.90%10.50%
Difference-125 2434160194

Within each category, a single applicant count is allocated to each applicant who has one or more of his choices to a course falling within such category. Applicants who have choices falling in two or more categories will be reported as a single applicant in each category to which he has applied.

Table 2
The number of overseas* domiciled applicants by the October deadline; by entry cycle, overseas area of domicile (specified only if more than 200 applicants within the 2007 cycle).

Country2008 2007Percentage change
Ireland833887 -6.10%
China841791 6.30%
Hong Kong834774 7.80%
United States of America812 7587.10%
Germany771692 11.40%
Malaysia657704 -6.70%
Singapore772571 35.20%
Canada585398 47.00%
Poland358392 -8.70%
France379366 3.60%
Sweden333372 -10.50%
Cyprus329317 3.80%
India285300 -5.00%
Pakistan266258 3.10%
Italy264233 13.30%
All overseas 12,46311,8455.20%

* includes EU countries.

Table 3
Applicants through UCAS by the October deadline by area of permanent residence and gender.

ApplicantsUK EU excluding (UK)

MenWomenTotal MenWomenTotal
2008 20,929 27,140 48,069 2,116 2,803 4,919
2007 21,348 26,790 48,138 2,044 2,656 4,700
% change -2.00% 1.30% -0.10% 3.50% 5.50% 4.70%
Difference -419 350 -69 72 147 219
Applicants Other OverseasAll

MenWomenTotal MenWomenTotal
2008 3,620 3,924 7,544 26,665 33,867 60,532
2007 3,457 3,688 7,145 26,849 33,134 59,983
% change 4.70% 6.40% 5.60% -0.70% 2.20% 0.90%
Difference 163 236 399 -184 733 549

Any applicants from Bulgaria and Romania are counted within "Other Overseas" for 2007 and "EU excluding (UK)" for 2008.

Media contacts

Byron Price, Communications Executive
Telephone: 01242 544987
Email: communications@ucas.ac.uk
Out of hours: 07768 740 461

Notes to editors

  • UCAS is the organisation responsible for managing applications to UK higher education courses.
  • 'Applicants' refers to individuals applying through the UCAS scheme, submitting an UCAS application form to at least one course at a UCAS member institution.
  • 'Applications' - the number of choices - each applicant may apply to up to five different courses/institutions. Only four of these choices may be courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science/medicine.