Continued rise in university applicants

14 February 2008

The latest figures from UCAS show a continued rise in the number of university applicants.

As of 15 January, the date by which applicants should apply to be given equal consideration, there were 430,489 people applying for a full-time undergraduate course at UK universities and colleges - a rise of 8.9% or 35,182.

However, the admissions service for nursing and midwifery diploma courses, NMAS, has this year been incorporated into the main UCAS scheme. NMAS closed in 2007 in order to streamline applications to nursing and midwifery courses and to offer students better information and more choice.

This change has the effect of increasing overall applicant numbers. UCAS has identified 8,665 people who would have applied solely through the former NMAS scheme, but have this year applied through UCAS. Excluding these individuals from the overall total results in a rise in applicants of 6.7% or 26,517.

Anthony McClaran, UCAS Chief Executive said: "These figures show that for the second year running we are seeing strong growth in the level of applications for undergraduate courses. These figures provide an encouraging indication for the likely position in the summer and, of course, there will still be thousands more applications between now and then."

The data that follows in this media release will include all applicants.

The top five subject choices remain the same at this point in the year as last year with some small changes in order. Law by area remains top, pre-clinical medicine climbs from third to second, psychology falls to third and English studies and management studies swap places and are now fourth and fifth respectively.

For 2008 entry, the maximum number of course choices that an applicant can make has changed from six to five. Therefore, table 7 showing subject choices shows a year-on-year fall across nearly all categories.

Nationally, data on the socio-economic background of all UK applicants aged 18 years and under shows that 29.6% were from the lower groups (4 to 7) in 2008, compared to 28.9% in 2007.

However, some caution needs to be exercised in comparing these figures as the question asked of applicants changed between 2007 and 2008 to take account of changing age legislation. This is detailed in table 9 below.

It is also important to remember that the general profile of applicants who would have previously applied through NMAS affects the socio-economic figures for England. The general characteristics of former NMAS applicants need to be borne in mind when analysing the tables. Most NMAS applicants are: women; English (and all NMAS courses were offered in England); aged 25 years and over and are classified as coming from lower socio-economic groups.



Media contacts

Byron Price, Communications Executive

Telephone: 01242 544987

Email: communications@ucas.ac.uk

Out of hours: 07768 740 461

Table 1 - The number of applicants by 15 January; by entry cycle and gender

Year Applicants
Female Male Total
2008 244,167 186,322 430,489
2007 221,523 173,784 395,307
% change 10.2% 7.2% 8.9%


Table 2 - Applicants by declared Area of Permanent Residence

Year England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Rep. of Ireland Other EU Other Overseas Total
2008 320,469 16,946 28,108 15,302 4,312 19,181 26,171 430,489
2007 291,075 16,110 27,032 15,446 4,694 17,380 23,570 395,307
% change 10.1% 5.2% 4.0% -0.9% -8.1% 10.4% 11.0% 8.9%


Table 3 - Applicants by age and declared area of permanent residence

  Area of Permanent Residence
  UK Other EU Other Overseas Total
Under 21 years 2008 318,922 18,868 21,029 358,819
2007 297,202 17,222 18,531 332,955
% change 7.3% 9.6% 13.5% 7.8%
21 to 24 years 2008 30,634 3,497 3,321 37,452
2007 26,016 3,592 3,221 32,829
% change 17.8% -2.6% 3.1% 14.1%
25 years and over 2008 31,269 1,128 1,821 34,218
2007 26,445 1,260 1,818 29,523
% change 18.2% -10.5% 0.2% 15.9%
Total 2008 380,825 23,493 26,171 430,489
2007 349,663 22,074 23,570 395,307
% change 8.9% 6.4% 11.0% 8.9%


Table 4 - Applicants by age and UK country of permanent residence

  Home country of applicant
  England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Total
Under 21 years 2008 268,518 13,992 23,282 13,130 318,922
2007 248,363 13,153 22,428 13,258 297,202
% change 8.1% 6.4% 3.8% -1.0% 7.3%
21 to 24 years 2008 25,372 1,440 2,549 1,273 30,634
2007 21,148 1,257 2,359 1,252 26,016
% change 20.0% 14.6% 8.1% 1.7% 17.8%
25 years and over 2008 26,579 1,514 2,277 899 31,269
2007 21,564 1,700 2,245 936 26,445
% change 23.3% -10.9% 1.4% -4.0% 18.2%
Total 2008 320,469 16,946 28,108 15,302 380,825
2007 291,075 16,110 27,032 15,446 349,663
% change 10.1% 5.2% 4.0% -0.9% 8.9%


Table 5 - Applicants by declared area of permanent residence and country of institution

Home area of applicant Country of institution
England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland
England 2008 319,665 32,911 28,453 1,145
2007 290,384 38,824 29,004 1,125
% change 10.1% -15.2% -1.9% 1.8%
Wales 2008 10,825 14,242 890 64
2007 10,623 13,699 868 63
% change 1.9% 4.0% 2.5% 1.6%
Scotland 2008 4,035 252 27,354 138
2007 4,334 318 26,396 133
% change -6.9% -20.8% 3.6% 3.8%
Northern Ireland 2008 8,313 768 4,964 13,203
2007 8,508 947 5,260 13,568
% change -2.3% -18.9% -5.6% -2.7%
Rep. of Ireland 2008 3,091 882 2,264 1,369
2007 3,385 940 2,402 1,758
% change -8.7% -6.2% -5.7% -22.1%
Other EU 2008 18,105 1,687 5,941 132
2007 16,352 1,896 5,202 186
% change 10.7% -11.0% 14.2% -29.0%
Other overseas 2008 25,416 2,570 5,565 296
2007 22,980 3,081 5,178 421
% change 10.6% -16.6% 7.5% -29.7%
Total 2008 389,450 53,312 75,431 16,347
2007 356,566 59,705 74,310 17,254
% change 9.2% -10.7% 1.5% -5.3%

Note - An applicant has a maximum count of 1 to each 'country of institution'. If an applicant's choices include multiple countries then the applicant is counted once within each 'country of institution' present.



Table 6 - Applicants by overseas (including non-UK EU) country (> 600 applicants only)

Country 2008 2007 Percent change
Ireland 4,312 4,694 -8.1%
China 3,386 2,811 20.5%
Hong Kong 2,711 2,581 5.0%
Germany 2,472 2,362 4.7%
Cyprus 2,277 2,141 6.4%
United States of America 1,872 1,711 9.4%
Malaysia 1,772 1,610 10.1%
France 1,749 1,557 12.3%
Poland 1,734 1,900 -8.7%
Singapore 1,657 1,307 26.8%
Greece 1,342 1,290 4.0%
Pakistan 1,295 1,313 -1.4%
India 1,155 1,162 -0.6%
Canada 1,136 868 30.9%
Sweden 1,058 1,080 -2.0%
Italy 958 848 13.0%
Nigeria 946 1,168 -19.0%
Lithuania 871 644 35.2%
Bulgaria 845 400 111.3%
Spain 803 706 13.7%
Belgium 667 619 7.8%
Norway 661 512 29.1%
All overseas (including non-UK EU countries) 49,664 45,644 8.8%


Table 7 - The number of Choices by January 15 by JACS 2 subject line and course type (degree, foundation degree and other)

Please note that because of the reduction in available choices for applicants most subjects will show a fall in this table.

 Joint Academic Coding System (JACS 2) Subject Line  Degree 2008  % change   Found. Deg. 2008  % change   Other 2008  % change  Total 
 M1 - Law by Area 77,459   -8.7%  50 
 33 
  77,542 
 A1 - Pre-clinical Medicine  70,377  -3.0% 
 70,377 
 C8 - Psychology 70,295   -9.6%  44 
 34 
  70,373 
 Q3 - English studies 50,251   -10.0%  9 
 25 
  50,285 
 N2 - Management studies  49,447  -8.7%  606  -10.5%  1,608   -20.7%  51,661 
 B7 - Nursing 47,051   -9.7%  2,845  90.2%  35,735   2157.4%  85,631 
 X1 - Training Teachers 43,896   -11.6%  165 
 16 
  44,077 
 NN - Combinations within Business & Admin Studies  42,816  -0.4%  901  14.8%  639   -4.5%  44,356 
 V1 - History by Period 41,917   -7.0% 

 12 
  41,929 
 N1 - Business studies 41,583   -12.1%  770  -15.6%  879  -9.8%   43,232 
 C6 - Sports Science 39,242   -12.2%  1,712  -12.7%  695   -24.5%  41,649 
 L1 - Economics 38,682   1.8% 



  38,682 
 W4 - Drama 36,960   -10.1%  1,152  -7.2%  677  -35.0%   38,789 
 L5 - Social Work 36,723   -8.6%  829  28.7%  6,522  -1.1%   44,074 
 G4 - Computer Science 36,586   -10.9%  1,537  3.1%  1,095   -26.6%  39,218 
 W2 - Design studies 36,578   -4.0%  1,971  6.4%  468  -22.5%   39,017 
 Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with arts/humanities  36,362  -11.9%  1,165  65.0%  166 
 37,693 
 Y Combs of languages with arts/humanities  34,078  -13.4% 

 43 
 34,121 
 G1 - Mathematics 31,932   -6.7% 



  31,932 
 Y Combs of science/engineering with arts/humanities/languages  25,064  -12.1%  2,447  20.3%  197 
 27,708 
 B9 - Others in Subjects allied to Medicine  24,473  -13.0%  256 
 1,026   4.2%  25,755 
 N4 - Accounting 24,132   -10.0%  136 
 120 
  24,388 
 Y Combs of science/engineering with social studies/bus/law  23,135  -6.8%  573  10.6%  236 
 23,944 
 K1 - Architecture 22,603   -3.5%  39 
 58 
  22,700 
 N8 - Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism and Transport  22,374  -4.2%  1,776  -14.0%   1,562  -25.4%  25,712 
 B2 - Pharmacology,Toxicology and Pharmacy  22,197  -16.2%  109 
 27 
 22,333 
 L2 - Politics 22,123   -7.6%  1 
 10 
  22,134 
 H3 - Mechanical Engineering  21,746  -4.8%  449 
 171 
 22,366 
 C1 - Biology 20,632   -11.4%  50 
 16 
  20,698 
 W6 - Cinematics and Photography  19,473  -8.6%  1,211  -1.2%  393   -39.0%  21,077 
 P3 - Media studies 19,175   -10.5%  989  7.7%  175 
  20,339 
 H2 - Civil Engineering 18,819   1.2%  126 
 139 
  19,084 
 F1 - Chemistry 18,507   -10.5% 

 18 
  18,525 
 B1 - Anatomy,Physiology and Pathology  18,294  -29.8% 

 85 
 18,379 
 W3 - Music 18,181   -14.8%  1,460  -3.2%  336  -41.1%   19,977 
 L3 - Sociology 18,005   -10.1%  5 
 85 
  18,095 
 Y Combs of soc studies/law with business 17,545   -5.8%  64 
 10 
  17,619 
 X3 - Academic studies in Education  17,280  -3.2%  768  21.3%  68 
 18,116 
 F3 - Physics 16,358   -14.5%  11 


  16,369 
 Y Combs of phys/math science with social studies/bus/law  16,079  -7.5%  125 
 95 
 16,299 
 F8 - Physical Geographical Sciences  15,831  -9.7%  44 
 21 
 15,896 
 LL - Combinations within Social Studies  14,107  -6.3%  44 
 13 
 14,164 
 L7 - Human and Social Geography  14,026  -6.0% 

 1 
 14,027 
 N5 - Marketing 14,026   -11.4%  390 
 73 
  14,489 
 H6 - Electronic and Electrical Engineering  14,013  -15.6%  92 
 376   -32.0%  14,481 
 Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with languages  13,592  -12.4% 

 2 
 13,594 
 Y Combs of arts/humanities  13,489  -15.3%  197 
 63 
 13,749 
 K2 - Building 13,016   -1.6%  355 
 499  -15.9%   13,870 
 Z Combs of 3 subjects, or other general courses  12,337  -19.8%  8 
 70 
 12,415 
 Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences  11,370  -9.6%  371 
 31 
 11,772 
 C7 - Molecular Biology,Biophysics & Biochem  10,856  -14.0%  10 
 19 
 10,885 
 A2 - Pre-clinical Dentistry  10,598  -4.0% 
 10,598 
 P5 - Journalism 10,424   2.3%  294 
 12 
  10,730 
 M9 - Others in Law 9,203   -4.1%  32 
 53 
  9,288 
 RR - Combinations within European Langs,Lit and related  9,112  -13.5% 
 9,112 
 Y Combs of soc studies/law  9,081  -15.9%  29 
 5 
 9,115 
 W1 - Fine Art 9,051   -8.5%  232 
 52 
  9,335 
 G5 - Information Systems  8,881  -11.3%  410 
 316 
 9,607 
 WW - Combinations within Creative Arts and Design  8,418  -18.4%  677  24.0%  106 
 9,201 
 H4 - Aerospace Engineering  8,195  -14.4%  471 
 21 
 8,687 
 H1 - General Engineering  8,118  -1.3%  60 
 73 
 8,251 
 Y Combs of languages 8,051   -8.3% 



  8,051 
 Y Combs of phys/math science with arts/humanities/languages  7,611  -15.9%  193 
 97 
 7,901 
 V5 - Philosophy 7,506   -13.1% 



  7,506 
 B8 - Medical Technology 7,357   -18.8%  49 


  7,406 
 H8 - Chemical,Process and Energy Engineering  7,328  -0.7%  5 
 8 
 7,341 
 D1 - Pre-clinical Veterinary Medicine  7,273  8.5% 
 7,273 
 GG - Combinations within Mathematical & Computer Sci  6,882  -10.6%  120 
 11 
 7,013 
 VV - Combinations within Hist & Philosophical studies  6,691  -10.7%  6 
 10 
 6,707 
 F4 - Forensic and Archaeological Science 6,267   -14.6%  165 
 129 
  6,561 
 W5 - Dance 6,066   2.6%  155 
 154 
  6,375 
 V3 - History by Topic 5,897   -3.1%  9 
 1 
  5,907 
 F6 - Geology 5,728   -10.2% 

 5 
  5,733 
 N3 - Finance 5,718   3.1%  23 
 18 
  5,759 
 C3 - Zoology 5,433   -11.7%  92 
 8 
  5,533 
 B6 - Aural and Oral Sciences  5,280  -23.6% 
 5,280 
 B4 - Nutrition 5,235   -11.2% 

 22 
  5,257 
 F7 - Science of Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments  5,028  -9.7%  47 
 17 
 5,092 
 V6 - Theology and Religious studies  4,863  -13.1%  1 
 45 
 4,909 
 Y Combs of sciences with engineering/technology  4,850  -13.5%  77 
 25 
 4,952 
 J9 - Others in Technology  4,743  -5.4%  602  24.1%  258 
 5,603 
 PP - Combinations within Mass Comms & Documentation  4,684  -16.5%  64 
 14 
 4,762 
 G6 - Software Engineering  4,681  -4.8%  207 
 74 
 4,962 
 Q8 - Classical studies 4,541   -17.7% 



  4,541 
 Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences with phys/math sciences  4,375  -17.6%  129 
 3 
 4,507 
 B5 - Ophthalmics 4,217   -11.5%  96 


  4,313 
 R9 - Others in European Langs,Lit and related  4,153  -7.8% 
 4,153 
 R1 - French studies 3,823   -8.7% 



  3,823 
 M2 - Law by Topic 3,734   -16.1%  122 
 11 
  3,867 
 K4 - Planning (Urban,Rural and Regional) 3,671   -7.6%  9 
 47 
  3,727 
 D3 - Animal Science 3,443   -9.9%  1,337  44.7%  267 
  5,047 
 L6 - Anthropology 3,259   -10.1% 



  3,259 
 Y Combs of phys/math sciences  3,135  -7.4%  9 
 25 
 3,169 
 QQ - Combinations within Linguistics,Classics & related  3,116  -9.3% 
 3,116 
 T9 - Others in non-European Langs & related  2,989  -11.1% 
 2,989 
 P9 - Others in Mass Comms & Documentation 2,937   -14.1%  14 


  2,951 
 H7 - Production and Manufacturing Engineering  2,824  -18.1%  4 
 9 
 2,837 
 N6 - Human Resource Management  2,531  -11.1%  9 
 35 
 2,575 
 Q1 - Linguistics 2,432   -11.7% 



  2,432 
 C9 - Others in Biological Sciences  2,387  -0.3%  8 
 9 
 2,404 
 B3 - Complementary Medicine  2,381  -6.7%  218 
 106 
 2,705 
 D4 - Agriculture 2,242   -9.0%  723  13.5%  171 
  3,136 
 L4 - Social Policy 2,238   -11.7%  404 
 132 
  2,774 
 FF - Combinations within Physical Sciences  2,227  -8.4% 
 2,227 
 CC - Combinations within Biological Sciences  2,221  -15.4% 

 1 
 2,222 
 T7 - American studies 2,076   -13.4% 

 1 
  2,077 
 W8 - Imaginative Writing  2,018  1.6%  9 
 17 
 2,044 
 L0 - Social Studies: any area of study  2,001  -16.0%  2 
 2,003 
 HH - Combinations within Engineering  1,948  -13.8%  81 
 13 
 2,042 
 N9 - Others in Business & Admin Studies  1,929  -16.2%  6 
 1,935 
 R4 - Spanish studies 1,807   -7.2% 



  1,807 
 V4 - Archaeology 1,777   -22.4%  25 
 1 
  1,803 
 C4 - Genetics 1,765   -20.1% 



  1,765 
 L9 - Others in Social Studies  1,724  -19.7%  40 
 35 
 1,799 
 P2 - Publicity studies 1,710   -10.7% 



  1,710 
 C5 - Microbiology 1,565   -22.1% 



  1,565 
 MM - Combinations within Law  1,562  -16.8%  3 
 4 
 1,569 
 R2 - German studies 1,451   -5.0% 



  1,451 
 T2 - Japanese studies 976   -4.4% 



  976 
 Y Combs of engineering/technology  900  -15.8% 

 3 
 903 
 Y Combs of engin/tech/building studies  829  3.4%  11 
 2 
  842 
 D6 - Food and Beverage studies  728  -6.1%  116 
 15 
 859 
 W7 - Crafts 727   -7.4%  88 
 11 
  826 
 KK - Combinations within Architecture,Build & Plan  703  -17.4%  23 
 9 
 735 
 J5 - Materials Technology not otherwise spec  690  -2.3%  7 
 697 
 W9 - Others in Creative Arts and Design  685  -17.8%  242 
 1 
 928 
 G3 - Statistics 659   -18.8% 



  659 
 BB - Combinations within Subjects allied to Medicine  656  -27.4%  4 
 7 
 667 
 F9 - Others in Physical Sciences  651  -13.7% 

 1 
 652 
 T1 - Chinese studies 636   -19.5% 



  636 
 J4 - Polymers and Textiles  593  -14.2% 

 3 
 596 
 J7 - Biotechnology 578   -12.8%  4 


  582 
 F5 - Astronomy 574   -14.8% 



  574 
 R0 - European Langs,Lit & related: any area 529   -11.8% 



  529 
 P1 - Information Services 527   30.1% 



  527 
 V9 - Others in Hist & Philosophical studies 514   -15.0% 

 3 
  517 
 Q5 - Celtic studies 510   -24.9% 

 6 
  516 
 Q2 - Comparative Literary studies  496  -5.2% 
 496 
 T6 - Modern Middle-Eastern studies  496  -19.3%  3 
 499 
 XX - Combinations within Education  496  -23.3%  5 
 501 
 K3 - Landscape Design 466   -16.0%  63 
 11 
  540 
 G0 - Mathematical & Comp Sci: any area  433  -18.0% 
 433 
 J6 - Maritime Technology 418 
 35 
 10 
 463 
 R7 - Russian and East European studies  384 




  384 
 V2 - History by Area 332 




 332 
 Q9 - Others in Linguistics,Classics & related  323 




  323 
 P4 - Publishing 308 
 34 


 342 
 G7 - Artificial Intelligence  277 
 9 


  286 
 H5 - Naval Architecture 274 
 23 


 297 
 R3 - Italian studies 267 




 267 
 H0 - Engineering: any area of study  260 
 13 


  273 
 X9 - Others in Education 249 
 138 
 1 
 388 
 G2 - Operational Research 224 


 3 
 227 
 TT - Combinations within non-European Langs & related  214 




  214 
 W0 - Creative Arts & Design: any area  201 




  201 
 DD - Combinations within Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects  182 




  182 
 F0 - Physical Sciences: any area of study 165 




 165 
 D9 - Others in Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects  122 




  122 
 C2 - Botany 121 



 121 
 G9 - Others in Mathematical & Computer Sci 109 


 2 
 111 
 T5 - African studies 106 




 106 
 C0 - Biological Sciences: any area of study 101 




 101 
 D7 - Agricultural Sciences 93 


 33 
 126 
 R6 - Scandinavian studies 77 




 77 
 D5 - Forestry 75 
  58 
 7 
 140 
 Q6 - Latin studies 71 




 71 
 J1 - Minerals Technology 68 




 68 
 K9 - Others in Architecture,Build & Plan 59 




 59 
 T3 - South Asian studies 59 




 59 
 Q4 - Ancient Language studies  58 




  58 
 F2 - Materials Science 50 




 50 
 N0 - Business & Admin studies: any area  45 




  45 
 R8 - European studies 45 




 45 
 T4 - Other Asian studies 29 




 29 
 N7 - Office Skills 23 




 23 
 J2 - Metallurgy 20 




 20 
 K0 - Architecture,Build & Plan: any area 18 




 18 
 JJ - Combinations within Technology  17 




  17 
 Q7 - Classical Greek studies  13 




  13 
 J0 - Technologies: any area of study  12 




  12 
 X2 - Research and Study Skills in Education 8 




 8 
 H9 - Others in Engineering 3 




 3 
 R5 - Portuguese studies 3 




 3 
 Total 1,772,090   -9.4%  34,006  11.2%  57,294   108.9%  1,863,390 

Table 7 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.

  • From 2008 the subject lines reported incorporate recent adjustments made to the Joint Academic Coding System and are now specified on the basis of JACS 2 (see further information on JACS 2). In addition, subject lines that have previously been reported have been reassessed and altered.

    Where changes in subject line have occurred the figures for both 2008 and 2007 have been recalculated so that comparisons are made on a like for like basis. For reporting purposes, the subject lines most affected by JACS2 changes are:

    C2 - Botany
    C5 - Microbiology
    F7 - Science of Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments
    F8 - Physical Geographical Sciences
    G0 - Mathematical & Comp Sci: any area
    G9 - Others in Mathematical & Computer Sci
    J7 - Biotechnology
    N2 - Management studies
    N8 - Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism and Transport
    R8 - European studies (New Subject Line)
    R9 - Others in European Langs, Lit and related

  • Percentage change is not shown if both the number of 2008 choices AND the number of 2007 choices is less than 500.



Table 8 - Foundations degree, applicants and applications (number of choices)

Year Applicants
Applicants Applications
2008 23,195 34,006
2007 20,855 30,432
% change 11.2% 11.7%


Table 9 - Applicants by Jan 15 who were 18 years and under and who had an area of permanent residence within the UK by entry cycle, simplified version of the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC) and Country of residence

2008 question: If you are in full-time education, please state the occupation of the highest-earning family member of the household in which you live. If he or she is retired or unemployed, give their most recent occupation. If you are not in full-time education, please state just your own occupation

Restricted to applicants aged 18 and under

  England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Total Proportion of known
1. Higher managerial and professional occupations 38,164 1,655 4,383 1,107 45,309 25.1%
2. Lower managerial and professional occupations 47,087 2,650 5,331 2,035 57,103 31.6%
3. Intermediate occupations 20,459 1,036 2,243 1,234 24,972 13.8%
4. Small employers and own account workers 11,423 738 1,225 902 14,288 7.9%
5. Lower supervisory and technical occupations 7,260 440 837 407 8,944 4.9%
6. Semi-routine occupations 17,520 961 1,866 748 21,095 11.7%
7. Routine occupations 7,339 529 772 474 9,114 5.0%
8. Not Classified - Unknown 28,225 1,737 2,967 1,132 34,061  
Total 177,477 9,746 19,624 8,039 214,886  


2007 question: If you are under 21, please give the occupation of your parent, step-parent or guardian who earns the most. If he or she is retired or unemployed, give their most recent occupation. If you are 21 or over, please give your own occupation

Restricted to applicants aged 18 and under

  England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland Total Proportion of known
1. Higher managerial and professional occupations 37,266 1,731 4,320 1,005 44,322 25.7%
2. Lower managerial and professional occupations 44,903 2,543 5,149 2,120 54,715 31.7%
3. Intermediate occupations 19,132 1,110 2,141 1,217 23,600 13.7%
4. Small employers and own account workers 10,808 685 1,284 996 13,773 8.0%
5. Lower supervisory and technical occupations 6,885 476 886 440 8,687 5.0%
6. Semi-routine occupations 15,413 862 1,772 776 18,823 10.9%
7. Routine occupations 6,748 512 726 491 8,477 4.9%
8. Not Classified - Unknown 25,710 1,415 2,611 1,120 30,856  
Total 166,865 9,334 18,889 8,165 203,253  

The applicant's age is as at 30 September of the reporting year.

Notes to editors

  • UCAS is the organisation responsible for managing applications to UK higher education courses.
  • The next snapshot of figures for the current 2008 cycle will be issued in April.
  • Data on the number of applications (choices made) to individual institutions can be found in the 15 January applications digest. Please note that because of the reduction in available choices for applicants most universities and colleges will show a fall in this table.