Applications to British universities jump by 10 per cent

Applications to British universities have increased by nearly 10 percent since last year, with the biggest surge coming from older students, according to new figures from the British University and College Admission Service.

The Guardian says the jump has been fueled by “rising numbers of older people applying to do a degree in the recession.”  It also pointed out that due to a government cap on spending for extra university seats, imposed early 2009, means “competition for places at university will hit a new high as 52,000 extra people attempt to get a full-time place at university where there are only 3,000 extra spaces in the system.”

For more from The Chronicle’s story, click here.