Provisional Final Figures for 2008 Entry

Provisional Final Figures for 2008 Entry

Mediarelease

Provisional final figures for 2008 entry

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 15 October 2008

UCAS is today releasing the provisional final figures for full-time undergraduate students starting courses at universities and colleges in 2008.

The total number of people applying for 2008 entry was 582,657. This is compared to 531,898 and 504,748 in 2007 and 2006 respectively. This year’s figure represents a rise of 9.5% on 2007 applicants. Last year saw a rise of 5.4% in the number of applicants, so this is the second year of very strong growth.

2008 figures include applicants who applied to ex-NMAS courses. 13,785 applicants are currently placed in such courses; a further 330 applicants currently have an outcome pending at an ex-NMAS course. Acceptances are + 6.3% if acceptances to ex-NMAS courses are excluded from 2008 figures.

The number of those accepted onto courses for 2008 entry was 451,871. This is a rise of 9.7% on the number of people accepted in 2007.

These figures make 2008 a record breaking year in terms of both those applying and those being accepted to full-time higher education courses. The increase in both applicants and acceptances is particularly strong in England, but all parts of the UK saw higher numbers.

The final figures for 2008 entry are due to be confirmed in January 2009.

UCAS Chief Executive, Anthony McClaran commented: “This has been a remarkable year for applications to full-time undergraduate courses in the UK. Demand has not simply remained steady – it has increased very significantly, on top of last year’s strong growth.”

Table 1 –Applicant statistics

2008 / 2007 / 2006
Applicants accepted
> having unconditional or confirmed conditional offers / 408,726 / 373,494 / 351,776
> having found a place in Clearing / 43,145 / 38,477 / 37,729
Total number of accepted applicants / 451,871 / 411,971 / 389,505
Applicants with outcome pending:
> decision from institution or applicant reply / 2,804 / 2,023 / 2,658
Applicants eligible for clearing:
> no offers held, conditions not met or applied very late / 114,009 / 103,324 / 98,629
Applicants withdrawn from scheme / 13,973 / 14,580 / 13,956
Total number of applicants / 582,657 / 531,898 / 504,748
Days from publication of GCE results / 55 / 55 / 55
Comparison date * / 08/10/08 / 10/10/07 / 11/10/06
Time of extraction / 00:05hrs / 00:05hrs / 05:15hrs

Table 1 notes

1. Includes those deferring entry to the following year. (Applicants are counted in the year in which they apply, not the year in which they intend to begin their course.)

2. Eligible applicants are sent details of Clearing, but as they do not have to register with UCAS to take part, the number active is not known.

3. Includes those withdrawn after accepting an offer.

4. Data reflects the position as at the precise date and time of extraction.

Table 2 - Acceptances from applicants by age group and gender

Year / Male / Female / Total
20 years and under / 2008 / 158,155 / 190,896 / 349,051
2007 / 148,303 / 174,841 / 323,144
% change / +6.6% / +9.2% / +8.0%
21 to 24 years / 2008 / 26,161 / 27,178 / 53,339
2007 / 23,856 / 23,417 / 47,273
% change / +9.7% / +16.1% / +12.8%
25 years and over / 2008 / 18,261 / 31,220 / 49,481
2007 / 16,610 / 24,944 / 41,554
% change / +9.9% / +25.2% / +19.1%
Total / 2008 / 202,577 / 249,294 / 451,871
2007 / 188,769 / 223,202 / 411,971
% change / +7.3% / +11.7% / +9.7%

Table 3 - Acceptances by age and UK country

Country of residence
England / Wales / Scotland / Northern Ireland / Total
20 years and under / 2008 / 266,540 / 14,257 / 20,929 / 11,468 / 313,194
2007 / 245,220 / 13,562 / 20,479 / 11,212 / 290,473
% change / +8.7% / +5.1% / +2.2% / +2.3% / +7.8%
21 to 24 years / 2008 / 35,439 / 1,916 / 3,353 / 1,216 / 41,924
2007 / 29,909 / 1,699 / 3,157 / 1,112 / 35,877
% change / +18.5% / +12.8% / +6.2% / +9.4% / +16.9%
25 years and over / 2008 / 39,100 / 2,102 / 3,229 / 765 / 45,196
2007 / 31,064 / 2,035 / 3,159 / 718 / 36,976
% change / +25.9% / +3.3% / +2.2% / +6.5% / +22.2%
Total / 2008 / 341,079 / 18,275 / 27,511 / 13,449 / 400,314
2007 / 306,193 / 17,296 / 26,795 / 13,042 / 363,326
% change / +11.4% / +5.7% / +2.7% / +3.1% / +10.2%

Table 4 - Acceptances by area of domicile and country of accepting institution

Area of Permanent Residence / Country of institution / Total
England / Wales / Scotland / Northern Ireland
England / 2008 / 327,971 / 8,423 / 4,411 / 274 / 341,079
2007 / 293,741 / 8,494 / 3,828 / 130 / 306,193
% change / +11.7% / -0.8% / +15.2% / +110.8% / +11.4%
Wales / 2008 / 5,492 / 12,664 / 109 / 10 / 18,275
2007 / 5,321 / 11,859 / 109 / 7 / 17,296
% change / +3.2% / +6.8% / 0.0% / +42.9% / +5.7%
Scotland / 2008 / 1,768 / 67 / 25,654 / 22 / 27,511
2007 / 1,754 / 44 / 24,972 / 25 / 26,795
% change / +0.8% / +52.3% / +2.7% / -12.0% / -2.7%
Northern Ireland / 2008 / 3,223 / 109 / 1,104 / 9,013 / 13,449
2007 / 3,239 / 101 / 1,116 / 8,586 / 13,042
% change / -0.5% / +7.9% / -1.1% / +5.0% / +3.1%
Rep. of Ireland / 2008 / 1,285 / 200 / 727 / 411 / 2,623
2007 / 1,237 / 188 / 721 / 470 / 2,616
% change / +3.9% / +6.4% / +0.8% / -12.6% / +0.3%
Other EU / 2008 / 14,864 / 620 / 3,044 / 29 / 18,557
2007 / 14,802 / 589 / 2,688 / 16 / 18,095
% change / +0.4% / +5.3% / +13.2% / +81.3% / +2.6%
Non EU / 2008 / 25,773 / 1,035 / 3,502 / 67 / 30,377
2007 / 24,256 / 959 / 2,664 / 55 / 27,934
% change / +6.3% / +7.9% / +31.5% / +21.8% / +8.7%
Total / 2008 / 380,376 / 23,118 / 38,551 / 9,826 / 451,871
2007 / 344,350 / 22,234 / 36,098 / 9,289 / 411,971
% change / +10.5% / +4.0% / +6.8% / +5.8% / +9.7%

Table 5 - Acceptances by overseas country (> 600 Acceptances only)

Country / 2008 / 2007 / Percent change
China / 5,969 / 4,880 / +22.3%
Ireland / 2,623 / 2,616 / +0.3%
Hong Kong / 2,611 / 2,495 / +4.6%
France / 2,565 / 2,534 / +1.2%
Cyprus / 2,329 / 2,590 / -10.1%
Germany / 2,197 / 2,238 / -1.8%
Malaysia / 2,033 / 1,959 / +3.8%
Nigeria / 1,813 / 1,960 / -7.5%
India / 1,714 / 1,464 / +17.1%
Greece / 1,660 / 1,626 / +2.1%
Poland / 1,500 / 1,986 / -24.5%
Pakistan / 1,365 / 1,392 / -1.9%
United States of America / 1,190 / 1,172 / +1.5%
Singapore / 977 / 739 / +32.2%
Bulgaria / 821 / 395 / +107.8%
Canada / 789 / 645 / +22.3%
Sweden / 785 / 730 / +7.5%
Norway / 779 / 650 / +19.8%
Spain / 714 / 743 / -3.9%
Italy / 695 / 645 / +7.8%
Lithuania / 689 / 573 / +20.2%
Sri Lanka / 653 / 719 / -9.2%
Romania / 622 / 264 / +135.6%
All overseas / 51,557 / 48,645 / +6.0%

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

Accepted Applicants / England / Wales / Scotland / Northern Ireland / Total
1. Higher managerial and professional occupations / 2008 / 34,304 / 1,534 / 3,909 / 949 / 40,696
2007 / 33,419 / 1,605 / 3,850 / 842 / 39,716
% change / +2.6% / -4.4% / +1.5% / +12.7% / +2.5%
2. Lower managerial and professional occupations / 2008 / 42,384 / 2,448 / 4,501 / 1,718 / 51,051
2007 / 40,087 / 2,329 / 4,430 / 1,772 / 48,618
% change / +5.7% / +5.1% / +1.6% / -3.0% / +5.0%
3. Intermediate occupations / 2008 / 18,482 / 969 / 1,868 / 1,040 / 22,359
2007 / 17,196 / 1,046 / 1,784 / 998 / 21,024
% change / +7.5% / -7.4% / +4.7% / +4.2% / +6.3%
4. Small employers and own account workers / 2008 / 10,232 / 668 / 988 / 748 / 12,636
2007 / 9,473 / 624 / 1,046 / 775 / 11,918
% change / +8.0% / +7.1% / -5.5% / -3.5% / +6.0%
5. Lower supervisory and technical occupations / 2008 / 6,481 / 399 / 644 / 318 / 7,842
2007 / 6,076 / 420 / 730 / 353 / 7,579
% change / +6.7% / -5.0% / -11.8% / -9.9% / +3.5%
6. Semi-routine occupations / 2008 / 15,863 / 868 / 1,503 / 610 / 18,844
2007 / 13,744 / 785 / 1,401 / 588 / 16,518
% change / +15.4% / +10.6% / +7.3% / +3.7% / +14.1%
7. Routine occupations / 2008 / 6,587 / 487 / 573 / 384 / 8,031
2007 / 5,989 / 468 / 539 / 369 / 7,365
% change / +10.0% / +4.1% / +6.3% / +4.1% / +9.0%
8. Not Classified - Unknown / 2008 / 27,056 / 1,739 / 2,664 / 893 / 32,352
2007 / 24,246 / 1,420 / 2,400 / 876 / 28,942
% change / +11.6% / +22.5% / +11.0% / +1.9% / +11.8%
Total / 2008 / 161,389 / 9,112 / 16,650 / 6,660 / 193,811
2007 / 150,230 / 8,697 / 16,180 / 6,573 / 181,680
% change / +7.4% / +4.8% / +2.9% / +1.3% / +6.7%

Table 7 - Acceptances by subject (all subjects)

Joint Academic Coding System (JACS 2) Subject Line / Degree 2008 / Percent change / Found. degree 2008 / Percent change / Other 2008 / Percent change
M1 - Law by Area / 17,059 / +6.8% / 31 / 25
W2 - Design studies / 15,801 / +4.5% / 1,657 / +1.3% / 366 / -31.6%
C8 - Psychology / 14,817 / +6.9% / 45 / 19
N2 - Management studies / 11,165 / +13.2% / 335 / 884 / +2.2%
G4 - Computer Science / 10,585 / +5.7% / 926 / +5.0% / 721 / -10.3%
N1 - Business studies / 10,246 / -3.6% / 497 / 450 / -12.3%
Q3 - English studies / 9,840 / +6.0% / 11 / 17
NN - Combinations within Business & Admin Studies / 9,254 / +21.4% / 340 / 230
C6 - Sports Science / 8,924 / +4.1% / 910 / +5.3% / 427
V1 - History by Period / 8,101 / +8.6% / 2 / 13
A1 - Pre-clinical Medicine / 8,016 / +2.2%
Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with arts/humanities / 8,001 / +4.9% / 658 / +40.6% / 92
X1 - Training Teachers / 7,553 / +5.5% / 313 / 48
Y Combs of languages with arts/humanities / 7,443 / +3.2% / 13
B7 - Nursing / 7,167 / +13% / 332 / 13,911 / +519.1%
L5 - Social Work / 7,150 / +4.5% / 950 / +15.2% / 1,666 / +6.9%
L1 - Economics / 6,867 / +19.5%
N8 - Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism and Transport / 6,758 / +18.4% / 1,099 / +14.1% / 643 / -22.7%
B9 - Others in Subjects allied to Medicine / 6,493 / +4.7% / 263 / 672 / +43.3%
G1 - Mathematics / 6,421 / +8.1%
N4 - Accounting / 6,191 / +5.7% / 59 / 34
W4 - Drama / 6,070 / +2.8% / 610 / +15.7% / 346
Y Combs of science/engineering with social studies/bus/law / 6,055 / +9.5% / 409 / 92
Y Combs of science/engineering with arts/humanities/languages / 5,833 / +8.5% / 1,105 / +23.7% / 103
W6 - Cinematics and Photography / 5,811 / +7.3% / 822 / +9.6% / 285
X3 - Academic studies in Education / 5,749 / +11.1% / 810 / +23.9% / 68
Z Combs of 3 subjects, or other general courses / 5,238 / -7.9% / 9 / 40
H3 - Mechanical Engineering / 5,145 / +12.3% / 244 / 140
P3 - Media studies / 4,758 / -0.4% / 335 / 59
L2 - Politics / 4,749 / +9.3% / 16
L3 - Sociology / 4,579 / +5.5% / 10 / 69
C1 - Biology / 4,573 / +3.5% / 37 / 17
W1 - Fine Art / 4,510 / +0.4% / 233 / 77
H6 - Electronic and Electrical Engineering / 4,490 / -2.5% / 45 / 223
W3 - Music / 4,353 / +1.1% / 610 / +6.8% / 142
H2 - Civil Engineering / 4,294 / +14.9% / 97 / 142
K1 - Architecture / 4,187 / +10.6% / 29 / 20
B2 - Pharmacology,Toxicology and Pharmacy / 4,073 / +2.6% / 38 / 15
F1 - Chemistry / 4,004 / +4.4% / 20 / 2
Y Combs of phys/math science with social studies/bus/law / 3,862 / +8.2% / 97 / 13
N5 - Marketing / 3,668 / +8.8% / 118 / 59
Y Combs of arts/humanities / 3,634 / +1.9% / 137 / 33
K2 - Building / 3,628 / +10.6% / 252 / 482
Y Combs of soc studies/law with business / 3,502 / +11.7% / 28 / 5
F3 - Physics / 3,325 / +3.3% / 10
F8 - Physical Geographical Sciences / 3,280 / +4.7% / 5 / 10
B1 - Anatomy,Physiology and Pathology / 3,226 / -6.8% / 42
H1 - General Engineering / 3,164 / +6.3% / 15 / 46
G5 - Information Systems / 3,017 / +8.4% / 274 / 163
WW - Combinations within Creative Arts and Design / 2,969 / +7.5% / 505 / +40.3% / 51
Y Combs of social studies/bus/law with languages / 2,873 / -1.0% / 1
L7 - Human and Social Geography / 2,764 / +8.0% / 1
Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences / 2,702 / +11.7% / 198 / 35
LL - Combinations within Social Studies / 2,684 / +6.6% / 40 / 31
M9 - Others in Law / 2,371 / +17.4% / 56 / 63
C7 - Molecular Biology,Biophysics & Biochem / 2,356 / +6.1% / 21
P5 - Journalism / 2,312 / +12.6% / 110 / 6
Y Combs of soc studies/law / 2,191 / +4.3% / 38 / 4
Y Combs of phys/math science with arts/humanities/languages / 2,145 / +3.2% / 140 / 90
GG - Combinations within Mathematical & Computer Sci / 1,855 / +13.2% / 68 / 12
RR - Combinations within European Langs,Lit and related / 1,759 / +4.3%
B8 - Medical Technology / 1,746 / +10.6% / 30
Y Combs of languages / 1,695 / +10.2%
H4 - Aerospace Engineering / 1,670 / +1.5% / 212 / 3
F4 - Forensic and Archaeological Science / 1,660 / -3.3% / 95 / 60
H8 - Chemical,Process and Energy Engineering / 1,645 / +12.3% / 12
J9 - Others in Technology / 1,543 / +11.9% / 373 / 91
Y Combs of sciences with engineering/technology / 1,495 / +0.3% / 77 / 42
N3 - Finance / 1,437 / +13.4% / 5 / 15
V5 - Philosophy / 1,420 / -1.3% / 1
G6 - Software Engineering / 1,403 / +14.4% / 126 / 50
F6 - Geology / 1,402 / +1.7% / 4
Y Combs of med/bio/agric sciences with phys/math sciences / 1,401 / -3.6% / 75 / 15
F7 - Science of Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments / 1,386 / +9.2% / 57 / 29
VV - Combinations within Hist & Philosophical studies / 1,354 / +10.6% / 15 / 3
V3 - History by Topic / 1,334 / +10.9% / 6
B3 - Complementary Medicine / 1,332 / +5.0% / 271 / 29
V6 - Theology and Religious studies / 1,292 / +5.7% / 23 / 41
C3 - Zoology / 1,225 / +12.0% / 54 / 8
A2 - Pre-clinical Dentistry / 1,210 / +1.0%
PP - Combinations within Mass Comms & Documentation / 1,136 / +11.9% / 42 / 22
B4 - Nutrition / 1,114 / +2.2% / 11
M2 - Law by Topic / 1,109 / -5.7% / 100
K4 - Planning (Urban,Rural and Regional) / 1,070 / -3.0% / 11 / 68
W5 - Dance / 1,042 / +18.4% / 84 / 37
D1 - Pre-clinical Veterinary Medicine / 949 / -6.4%
D3 - Animal Science / 947 / +6.6% / 697 / +52.2% / 149
R9 - Others in European Langs,Lit and related / 914 / +3.6%
B6 - Aural and Oral Sciences / 909 / +2.8%
Q8 - Classical studies / 885 / -0.6% / 1
L4 - Social Policy / 872 / -0.2% / 263 / 58
C9 - Others in Biological Sciences / 863 / +34.4% / 37 / 4
P9 - Others in Mass Comms & Documentation / 849 / +18.6% / 34
R1 - French studies / 780 / +11.4%
Y Combs of phys/math sciences / 771 / +15.1% / 2 / 13
B5 - Ophthalmics / 767 / +1.1% / 45
H7 - Production and Manufacturing Engineering / 738 / -2.9% / 7
N6 - Human Resource Management / 732 / +10.1% / 1 / 8
L6 - Anthropology / 699 / +2.6%
D4 - Agriculture / 678 / +0.3% / 629 / +13.5% / 193
Q1 - Linguistics / 661 / +8.9% / 8
T9 - Others in non-European Langs & related / 650 / -9.2%
QQ - Combinations within Linguistics,Classics & related / 634 / +2.8%
W8 - Imaginative Writing / 609 / +4.6% / 2 / 8
L9 - Others in Social Studies / 603 / +21.1% / 49 / 15
T7 - American studies / 560 / +7.9%
FF - Combinations within Physical Sciences / 553 / +16.4%
N9 - Others in Business & Admin Studies / 552 / -6.9% / 2
HH - Combinations within Engineering / 541 / -11.3% / 60 / 1
W7 - Crafts / 538 / -4.6% / 140 / 15
V4 - Archaeology / 533 / +2.7% / 25
P2 - Publicity studies / 473
C4 - Genetics / 450
W9 - Others in Creative Arts and Design / 440 / 207
CC - Combinations within Biological Sciences / 404
L0 - Social Studies: any area of study / 400 / 4
R4 - Spanish studies / 393
F9 - Others in Physical Sciences / 366
C5 - Microbiology / 356
MM - Combinations within Law / 345 / 5 / 3
J4 - Polymers and Textiles / 312
Y Combs of engineering/technology / 296
R2 - German studies / 280
D6 - Food and Beverage studies / 253 / 91 / 9
KK - Combinations within Architecture,Build & Plan / 234 / 19 / 2
J5 - Materials Technology not otherwise spec / 210 / 15
V9 - Others in Hist & Philosophical studies / 201
H5 - Naval Architecture / 199 / 10
BB - Combinations within Subjects allied to Medicine / 197 / 2
XX - Combinations within Education / 194 / 184
T2 - Japanese studies / 168
K3 - Landscape Design / 164 / 45 / 2
G3 - Statistics / 163
Y Combs of engin/tech/building studies / 154 / 8
P1 - Information Services / 154
J6 - Maritime Technology / 138 / 11
W0 - Creative Arts & Design: any area / 135
T1 - Chinese studies / 130
H0 - Engineering: any area of study / 126
Q2 - Comparative Literary studies / 126
R0 - European Langs,Lit & related: any area / 125
T6 - Modern Middle-Eastern studies / 125 / 1
F5 - Astronomy / 122
Q9 - Others in Linguistics,Classics & related / 122
J7 - Biotechnology / 120
Q5 - Celtic studies / 104 / 6
G0 - Mathematical & Comp Sci: any area / 98
V2 - History by Area / 97
R7 - Russian and East European studies / 89
P4 - Publishing / 86 / 24
F0 - Physical Sciences: any area of study / 83
R3 - Italian studies / 80
J1 - Minerals Technology / 60
G7 - Artificial Intelligence / 56 / 5
DD - Combinations within Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects / 49 / 1
G2 - Operational Research / 46 / 1
X9 - Others in Education / 45 / 192 / 2
T3 - South Asian studies / 44
G9 - Others in Mathematical & Computer Sci / 42
TT - Combinations within non-European Langs & related / 38
X2 - Research and Study Skills in Education / 38
D9 - Others in Vet Sci,Ag & related subjects / 36
D5 - Forestry / 30 / 72 / 4
R8 - European studies / 29
T5 - African studies / 28
J2 - Metallurgy / 27
D7 - Agricultural Sciences / 23 / 13
C2 - Botany / 22
N7 - Office Skills / 19 / 9
C0 - Biological Sciences: any area of study / 17
R6 - Scandinavian studies / 17
Q4 - Ancient Language studies / 16
N0 - Business & Admin studies: any area / 15
A9 - Others in Medicine and Dentistry / 12 / 24
Q6 - Latin studies / 12
K9 - Others in Architecture,Build & Plan / 11
JJ - Combinations within Technology / 9
T4 - Other Asian studies / 8
F2 - Materials Science / 7
K0 - Architecture,Build & Plan: any area / 7
H9 - Others in Engineering / 5
Q7 - Classical Greek studies / 2
Grand Total / 407,000 / +6.3% / 20,526 / +16.4% / 24,345 / +115.7%

Table notes:

Note that Foundation Year courses are accounted for as Degree.'Other' includes HND, HNC, Certificates of H.E., Diplomas of H.E. (including those in social work, midwifery and nursing) and some postgraduate courses in social work .

Percentage change is not shown if both the number of 2008 choices

AND the number of 2007 choices is less than 500.

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

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