Record applications drive strategic subjects upwards

A record 375,104 applicants have had their university and college places confirmed so far - a rise of 8.4% on this point last year. The statistics from UCAS show the trend in full-time undergraduate admissions as of 00.05 hours this morning. 9,263 of the accepted applicants had secured a place through Clearing - a rise of 11.6% on last year.

Just over 55,000 applicants are still "pending" - this could be because they are awaiting a decision from a university or college, the applicant is yet to respond to an offer or they may be awaiting the results of other qualifications.

A further 119,477 applicants are eligible for Clearing either because they aren't holding any offers, they did not meet the conditions of their offers or they applied late. The number eligible for Clearing is up 9.4% on last year, however proportionally this is 21.4% of all applicants - the same as last year. Clearing remains available for applicants until 20 September.

Overall, the number of applicants is up 9.4% to a record 557,486 this year. Though it should be noted that 2008 figures include applicants who applied to courses that would have been offered through NMAS. Acceptances are up 5.3% if acceptances to ex-NMAS courses are excluded from 2008 figures.

Owing to the change in the number of choices available to applicants from six to five it has been difficult to make comparisons in subject trends this year. However, now that the data is looking at acceptances, meaningful comparisons can be made.

Law by area, design studies and psychology occupy the top three places in the table of subjects with the most acceptances at degree level - as last year. A number of subjects have been identified by the sector as strategically important: mathematics shows an increase of 7.1% in acceptances to 5,682, biology is up 2.7% to 4,000, chemistry is up 4.6% to 3,545 and physics is up 1.3% to 3,040.

English studies is up 7.2% to 9,149, and French studies is up 9.0% to 711. Business studies has so far recorded a fall of 4.1% to 7,963 whilst related subjects such as management studies have shown a rise. Media studies is fairly flat with a modest fall of 0.4% to 4,048.

Media contacts

Byron Price, Communications Executive
Darren Barker, Communications Officer
Telephone: 01242 544987 or 01242 545723
Email: communications@ucas.ac.uk
Out of hours: 07768 740461

Table 1: Applicant statistics as at 00:05 hours Wednesday 20 August 2008

 

2008

2007

2006

Applicants accepted (1)

      

- having unconditional or confirmed
  conditional offers

365,841

337,605

317,927

- having found a place in Clearing

9,263

8,299

7,180

Total number of accepted applicants

375,104

345,904

325,107

Applicants with outcome pending
- decision from institution or applicant reply

55,695

47,655

43,292

Applicants eligible for clearing (2)
- no offers, conditions not met, applied very
  late

119,447

109,210

108,874

Applicants withdrawn from scheme (3)

7,240

7,040

6,806

Total number of applicants

557,486

509,809

484,079

Days from publication of GCE results

6

6

6

Comparison date (4)

20/08/08

22/08/07

23/08/06

Number of institutions within UCAS membership receiving applications

306

322

327

2008 figures include applicants who applied to courses that would have been offered through NMAS. 10,833 applicants are currently placed in such courses; a further 2,678 applicants currently have an outcome pending at an ex-NMAS course. Acceptances are up 5.3%: if acceptances to ex-NMAS course are excluded from 2008 figures.

Table 2: Acceptances from applicants by age group and gender

 MaleFemale Total
20 years and under 2008135,348168,246303,594
2007128,112155,211 283,323
% change5.6%8.4% 7.2%
21 to 24 years 200818,05419,69837,752
200716,70217,035 33,737
% change8.1%15.6% 11.9%
25 years and over 200812,20421,55433,758
200711,43617,408 28,844
% change6.7%23.8% 17.0%
Total 2008165,606209,498 375,104
2007156,250 189,654345,904
% change6.0% 10.5%8.4%

Table 3: Acceptances by area of permanent residence and country of accepting institution

Area of Permanent Residence Country of institutionTotal
EnglandWalesScotland Northern Ireland
England2008 270,5127,6014,163216 282,492
2007245,0347,845 3,652116256,647
% change10.4%-3.1% 14.0%86.2%10.1%
Wales2008 4,96610,3631069 15,444
20074,8119,679107 614,603
% change3.2%7.1% -0.9%50.0%5.8%
Scotland2008 1,5316222,27917 23,889
20071,5513121,982 1923,583
% change-1.3%100.0% 1.4%-10.5%1.3%
Northern Ireland 20082,942981,0447,780 11,864
20072,989971,053 7,24211,381
% change-1.6%1.0% -0.9%7.4%4.2%
Rep. of Ireland 20081,087168692376 2,323
20071,078150709 4682,405
% change0.8%12.0% -2.4%-19.7%-3.4%
Other EU2008 12,0845122,67216 15,284
200712,0224882,271 1414,795
% change0.5%4.9% 17.7%14.3%3.3%
Non EU2008 20,1497072,90349 23,808
200719,4626972,288 4322,490
% change3.5%1.4% 26.9%14.0%5.9%
Total 2008313,27119,511 33,8598,463375,104
2007286,947 18,98732,0627,908 345,904
% change9.2% 2.8%5.6%7.0% 8.4%

Table 4: Acceptances (UK domiciled applicants only) by age and UK country

Accepted applicants (UK only) Country of residence
EnglandWales ScotlandNorthern IrelandTotal
20 years and under 2008232,12612,52219,008 10,306273,962
2007215,41611,952 18,6979,873255,938
% change7.8%4.8% 1.7%4.4%7.0%
21 to 24 years 200824,4531,4612,474943 29,331
200720,6421,215 2,39988925,145
% change18.5%20.2% 3.1%6.1%16.6%
25 years and over 200825,9131,4612,407615 30,396
200720,5891,436 2,48761925,131
% change25.9%1.7% -3.2%-0.6%21.0%
Total 2008282,49215,444 23,88911,864333,689
2007256,647 14,60323,58311,381 306,214
% change10.1% 5.8%1.3%4.2% 9.0%

Table 5: Acceptances by subject

Joint Academic Coding System (JACS 2) Subject Line Degree 2008% change Foundation degree 2008% change Other qualifications 2008% change Total
M1 - Law by Area14,528 6.8%21
17
 14,566
W2 - Design studies13,316 1.4%1,242-2.4%249
 14,807
C8 - Psychology12,908 5.8%21
14
 12,943
Q3 - English studies9,149 7.2%8
14
 9,171
N2 - Management studies9,020 9.8%220
432
 9,672
G4 - Computer Science7,966 3.9%5616.9%406-19.9% 8,933
N1 - Business studies7,963 -4.1%233
237
 8,433
A1 - Pre-clinical Medicine 7,7022.4%
7,702
C6 - Sports Science7,694 4.2%6041.5%306
 8,604
V1 - History by Period7,609 8.0%1
8
 7,618
NN - Combinations within Business & Admin Studies 7,29916.8%205
152
7,656
Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with arts/humanities 7,0434.9%429
56
7,528
Y Combs of languages with arts/humanities6,769 2.3%

13
 6,782
X1 - Training Teachers6,306 6.1%186
13
 6,505
L1 - Economics5,986 17.9%



 5,986
B7 - Nursing5,910 14.9%303
10,913923.2% 17,126
G1 - Mathematics5,682 7.1%



 5,682
W4 - Drama5,469 4.9%462
297
 6,228
N8 - Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism and Transport 5,27415.1%7236.3%453 -22.0%6,450
Y Combs of science/engineering with social studies/bus/law 5,08311.3%277
73
5,433
L5 - Social Work5,082 4.3%460
1,31415.7% 6,856
B9 - Others in Subjects allied to Medicine 5,0513.8%152
519 55.9%5,722
W6 - Cinematics and Photography 5,0224.5%66013.2%206
5,888
Y Combs of science/engineering with arts/humanities/languages 4,9924.5%75921.8%76
5,827
X3 - Academic studies in Education 4,58214.0%449
44
5,075
N4 - Accounting4,544 2.6%19
19
 4,582
L2 - Politics4,182 10.3%

9
 4,191
H3 - Mechanical Engineering 4,18111.0%170
105
4,456
P3 - Media studies4,048 -0.4%284
39
 4,371
C1 - Biology4,000 2.7%22
7
 4,029
W1 - Fine Art3,891 -1.0%144
40
 4,075
L3 - Sociology3,787 7.7%3
47
 3,837
W3 - Music3,691 -1.4%493
92
 4,276
Z Combs of 3 subjects, or other general courses 3,686-14.2%3
30
3,719
K1 - Architecture3,659 8.4%24
13
 3,696
F1 - Chemistry3,545 4.6%9
1
 3,555
B2 - Pharmacology,Toxicology and Pharmacy3,537 3.9%26
7
 3,570
H2 - Civil Engineering3,451 13.9%57
87
 3,595
H6 - Electronic and Electrical Engineering 3,447-3.3%22
134
3,603
Y Combs of arts/humanities 3,1912.1%90
25
3,306
Y Combs of phys/math science with social studies/bus/law 3,1378.7%60
13
3,210
F8 - Physical Geographical Sciences 3,1055.4%4
9
3,118
F3 - Physics3,040 1.3%6


 3,046
K2 - Building2,960 10.0%148
316
 3,424
N5 - Marketing2,924 6.1%97
30
 3,051
B1 - Anatomy,Physiology and Pathology 2,834-7.7%

17
2,851
Y Combs of soc studies/law with business2,833 9.1%21
3
 2,857
L7 - Human and Social Geography 2,6388.7%
2,638
WW - Combinations within Creative Arts and Design 2,6106.4%381
39
3,030
Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with languages 2,571-2.6%

1
2,572
H1 - General Engineering 2,4166.1%6
24
2,446
LL - Combinations within Social Studies 2,3446.0%29
22
2,395
Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences 2,2695.6%158
21
2,448
G5 - Information Systems 2,1479.8%147
96
2,390
P5 - Journalism2,046 12.6%75
2
 2,123
C7 - Molecular Biology,Biophysics & Biochem 2,0176.4%

18
2,035
M9 - Others in Law1,948 16.4%23
36
 2,007
Y Combs of soc studies/law 1,8182.5%24
2
1,844
Y Combs of phys/math science with arts/humanities/languages 1,797-0.2%96
53
1,946
RR - Combinations within European Langs,Lit and related 1,6531.9%
1,653
Y Combs of languages1,582 11.1%



 1,582
GG - Combinations within Mathematical & Computer Sci 1,4668.9%41
4
1,511
H8 - Chemical,Process and Energy Engineering 1,45912.3%

9
1,468
F4 - Forensic and Archaeological Science1,386 -4.6%73
43
 1,502
H4 - Aerospace Engineering 1,373-0.7%159
3
1,535
B8 - Medical Technology1,366 9.3%19


 1,385
V5 - Philosophy1,329 0.5%



 1,329
F6 - Geology1,291 2.4%

5
 1,296
VV - Combinations within Hist & Philosophical studies 1,2559.3%3
3
1,261
F7 - Science of Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments 1,24214.8%39
17
1,298
V3 - History by Topic1,225 9.8%1
6
 1,232
J9 - Others in Technology 1,2166.2%265
72
1,553
Y Combs of sciences with engineering/technology 1,2093.3%43
20
1,272
V6 - Theology and Religious studies 1,1421.6%4
31
1,177
A2 - Pre-clinical Dentistry 1,1410.5%
1,141
C3 - Zoology1,115 9.6%47
5
 1,167
G6 - Software Engineering 1,10910.2%82
29
1,220
Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences with phys/math sciences 1,107-0.6%55
8
1,170
N3 - Finance1,096 10.3%3
7
 1,106
PP - Combinations within Mass Comms & Documentation 99815.8%28
8
1,034
B3 - Complementary Medicine 980-0.5%141
26
1,147
D1 - Pre-clinical Veterinary Medicine 944-3.0%
944
W5 - Dance937 17.9%61
29
 1,027
B4 - Nutrition931 -3.2%

6
 937
K4 - Planning (Urban,Rural and Regional)888 -0.8%6
30
 924
M2 - Law by Topic887 -7.3%60


 947
Q8 - Classical studies871 0.5%



 871
D3 - Animal Science830 4.9%53855.0%65
 1,433
B6 - Aural and Oral Sciences 8254.2%
825
R9 - Others in European Langs,Lit and related 8241.0%
824
P9 - Others in Mass Comms & Documentation721 14.1%20


 741
R1 - French studies711 9.0%



 711
Y Combs of phys/math sciences 69212.3%1
8
 701
B5 - Ophthalmics670 0.4%20


 690
L4 - Social Policy668 -4.8%178
45
 891
C9 - Others in Biological Sciences 65630.9%17
3
676
T9 - Others in non-European Langs & related652 -6.9%



 652
L6 - Anthropology630 3.1%



 630
Q1 - Linguistics628 8.1%



 628
H7 - Production and Manufacturing Engineering 593-7.1%

4
597
D4 - Agriculture586 0.2%441
131
 1,158
QQ - Combinations within Linguistics, Classics & related 5687.6%
568
N6 - Human Resource Management 5273.1%

5
 532
W8 - Imaginative Writing509 0.2%

7
516
T7 - American studies508 5.2%



 508
FF - Combinations within Physical Sciences491




491
W7 - Crafts479 -4.6%109
11
 599
V4 - Archaeology456
18


474
L9 - Others in Social Studies 449
33
15
 497
HH - Combinations within Engineering 448-14.3%35
1
484
N9 - Others in Business & Admin Studies 442
2


 444
P2 - Publicity studies402




402
L0 - Social Studies: any area of study 378


4
 382
C4 - Genetics374




374
W9 - Others in Creative Arts and Design 363
142


 505
R4 - Spanish studies361




361
CC - Combinations within Biological Sciences 348




 348
C5 - Microbiology314




314
MM - Combinations within Law 286


3
 289
F9 - Others in Physical Sciences 270




 270
R2 - German studies260




260
Y Combs of engineering/technology 247




 247
J4 - Polymers and Textiles 242




 242
D6 - Food and Beverage studies 208
56
5
 269
KK - Combinations within Architecture,Build & Plan 195
15
1
 211
H5 - Naval Architecture186
8


194
V9 - Others in Hist & Philosophical studies178




178
T2 - Japanese studies167




167
J5 - Materials Technology not otherwise spec 166
6


 172
Y Combs of engin/tech/building studies 148
6


 154
BB - Combinations within Subjects allied to Medicine 144
1


 145
K3 - Landscape Design135
34
2
171
G3 - Statistics132




132
XX - Combinations within Education 130
110


 240
P1 - Information Services129




129
R0 - European Langs, Lit & related: any area124




124
J6 - Maritime Technology122
8


130
T1 - Chinese studies116




116
T6 - Modern Middle-Eastern studies 116




 116
F5 - Astronomy111




111
H0 - Engineering: any area of study 109




 109
Q5 - Celtic studies105


5
110
Q9 - Others in Linguistics, Classics & related 105




 105
W0 - Creative Arts & Design: any area 96




 96
G0 - Mathematical & Comp Sci: any area 93




 93
J7 - Biotechnology92




92
Q2 - Comparative Literary studies 89




 89
V2 - History by Area79




79
R7 - Russian and East European studies 77




 77
P4 - Publishing74
13


87
R3 - Italian studies69




69
J1 - Minerals Technology58




58
F0 - Physical Sciences: any area of study52




52
G7 - Artificial Intelligence 49
4


 53
X9 - Others in Education44
118
1
163
DD - Combinations within Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects 40




 40
D9 - Others in Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects39




39
G2 - Operational Research37




37
TT - Combinations within non-European Langs & related 33




 33
T3 - South Asian studies30




30
X2 - Research and Study Skills in Education27




27
D5 - Forestry25
 53
4
82
T5 - African studies24




24
D7 - Agricultural Sciences23


6
29
C2 - Botany21



21
G9 - Others in Mathematical & Computer Sci19




19
R8 - European studies19




19
Q4 - Ancient Language studies 18




 18
C0 - Biological Sciences: any area of study17




17
R6 - Scandinavian studies16




16
J2 - Metallurgy14




14
N7 - Office Skills14
1


15
N0 - Business & Admin studies: any area 12




 12
A9 - Others in Medicine and Dentistry 10


22
 32
Q6 - Latin studies10




10
F2 - Materials Science8




8
K0 - Architecture, Build & Plan: any area8




8
K9 - Others in Architecture,Build & Plan8




8
JJ - Combinations within Technology 7




 7
T4 - Other Asian studies6




6
H9 - Others in Engineering2




2
Q7 - Classical Greek studies 2




 2
Total343,4925.3% 13,73414.5%17,878135.7% 375,104

Table notes:

The large increase in subject line B7 nursing - "Other" is largely attributed to the incorporation of the admissions service for nursing and midwifery diploma courses, NMAS, into the main UCAS scheme. As a result the 2008 figures in this table includes 10,833 acceptances to courses previously available through NMAS.

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. 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 JACS 2 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 acceptances and the number of 2007 acceptances is less than 500.

Table 6: Accepted applicants aged 18 years and under with 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.

2008EnglandWales ScotlandNorthern IrelandTotal Proportion of known
1. Higher managerial and professional occupations 32,1451,4203,781920 38,26625.7%
2. Lower managerial and professional occupations 39,0192,2674,2771,607 47,17031.7%
3. Intermediate occupations 17,0259011,784946 20,65613.9%
4. Small employers and own account workers 9,186609924676 11,3957.7%
5. Lower supervisory and technical occupations 5,955362606279 7,2024.8%
6. Semi-routine occupations 14,2157871,421547 16,97011.4%
7. Routine occupations5,832 4515353457,1634.8%
8. Not Classified - Unknown 22,7481,4652,355800 27,368
Total146,125 8,26215,6836,120 176,190

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.

2007EnglandWales ScotlandNorthern IrelandTotal Proportion of known
1. Higher managerial and professional occupations 31,6251,5133,713779 37,63026.6%
2. Lower managerial and professional occupations 37,1562,1534,2071,595 45,11131.9%
3. Intermediate occupations 15,8799571,697906 19,43913.7%
4. Small employers and own account workers 8,584572982695 10,8337.7%
5. Lower supervisory and technical occupations 5,612393684316 7,0054.9%
6. Semi-routine occupations 12,3767251,330522 14,95310.6%
7. Routine occupations5,351 4175073246,5994.7%
8. Not Classified - Unknown 20,4271,1782,118750 24,473
Total137,010 7,90815,2385,887 166,043