The UCAS application figures published yesterday represent the position at 15 January. While they give the first meaningful indication of demand for full-time higher education under the first year of the new fee and support arrangements, it is important to note that there is a long way to go before the application cycle concludes for 2012 entry.
Sir Martin Harris, Director of Fair Access said “It is clear that the application rates do not indicate the catastrophic collapse in demand, nor the disproportionate effect on disadvantaged groups that some had feared. However, they do show a change in the upward trend we have seen over the last five years. Along with others, we will look to monitor very carefully the effect of the new arrangements on participation, particularly among disadvantaged or under-represented groups and in different parts of the sector.
It is too early to draw any firm conclusions from this data but it could indicate that higher fees may have had a small impact on demand at this stage in the cycle. It is not too late to apply for 2012 and it is therefore crucial that the new fee and support arrangements are properly understood by all. Higher education is a life changing experience and deferred fees with affordable repayments and significant maintenance support, particularly for students from lower income backgrounds, mean that no-one need be deterred on financial grounds.