University applications in England down by 10%

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), said:

'These latest figures highlight yet again the government's recklessness in raising tuition fees to as much as £9,000 a year. It should come as little surprise that applications in England are hardest hit as a result of the government making it the most expensive country in the world in which to gain a public degree education.

'The number of older people being deterred from applying is particularly concerning. If we want to compete with other leading economies and produce highly-skilled workers we simply cannot afford to have a system that puts people off university.

'Erecting punitive financial barriers is not the way to encourage the best and brightest to get on. Do ministers really want to return us to a time when money, not ability, mattered most for success?'