Figures confirm record numbers missed out on university place this summer

The figures, from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), revealed that 209,253 people, one in three who applied, did not get a place at university. In total 688,310 people applied and 479,057 (69.6%) were accepted. In the previous year 633,592 people applied and 477,277 (75.3%) were accepted.

Responding the figures, the general secretary UCU, Sally Hunt, said: 'Record numbers of people missed out on a place at university this summer and we will be incredibly disappointed if any minister tries to spin their way out of this by saying there are more students at university. At a time of record demand, over 200,000 students, one in three who applied, missed out on a university place because the government scrapped plans to fund additional places.

'Other countries around the world are investing in universities and in students. We, however, seem intent on doing the opposite, despite George Osborne yesterday having the nerve to say that universities were the jewel in our economic crown. The chancellor and the country will quickly learn that warm words won't save our universities.'

More on the UCAS figures can be found here.