UK receives a record number of applications from disadvantaged students: UCAS Report

A report published by the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) has highlighted that UK universities have received a record number of applications from disadvantaged students.

As per UCAS, the application rate for 18-year-olds from disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the UK has increased from 27% in 2021 to nearly 29%. Further, a record high overall application rate of 44.1% has also been reported. Over 683,650 students had submitted 3,049,000 applications via UCAS by 30 June 2022.

UCAS predicts that a record number of disadvantaged students will start their academic sessions this autumn.

Clare Marchant, the Chief Executive of UCAS has called it encouraging to see students from disadvantaged backgrounds apply in record numbers despite the pandemic. She further added that UCAS analysis shows that higher education institutions are supporting the progression of students with targeted offers.

The same data has also revealed that the application rate of 18-year-olds from advantaged areas has remained unchanged at 59.5%.

While there is a 3% increase in the number of international applications this year, Nigeria has emerged as a market with a large demand for study abroad with the number of applications increasing by 58%. India and China have grown by 20% and 10% respectively.

The UK has passed its 2030 target to host 600,000 international students in 2020-21 itself. This year, efforts will be made across the education sector to support over 700,000 students starting their educational journey, Marchant says.