§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) applications for degree courses were received and (b) vacant university spaces there were, in each of the past five years. [134909]
§ Mr. WicksThe latest available data, showing the number of applications from UK domiciled students via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) to institutions in the UK, are shown in the following table. Final figures for 2000 entry will be available in early 2001.
Applications from UK domiciled students via UCAS to full-time and sandwich first degree courses in UK institutions Year of entry Number of applications1 1995 2,103,141 1996 1,661,323 1997 1,735,497 1998 1,700,939 1999 1,752,822 1 In 1995 each applicant could make up to eight applications; in 1996 and subsequent years each applicant could make up to six applications Figures for the number of vacancies are not available centrally. Although universities and colleges inform UCAS throughout the clearing process which courses have vacancies, and these appear in the national press and elsewhere, they do not declare the number of vacancies.