University sees second highest-ever annual undergraduate applications

Thursday, 04 February 2016

The University has had its second highest ever total of undergraduate applications – falling just short of last year’s record, according to figures published today.

We received 20,811 applications for all full-time undergraduate courses at the UCAS’ 15th January ‘on time’ deadline – nearly six applications per place across the 250 available courses.

Year-on-year, Reading has seen a 6% dip from the record application total last year but the overall trend is consistently upwards, with a 14.4% increase in the last two years (2014-16) - six times the 2.4% national average.

There has been a 16.1% rise in UK/EU applications alone over the same period – more than seven times the 2.2% national average.

Highlights this year include the University having 234 applications to the new School of Architecture which is being opened to its first cohort of students this September.

It means that, overall, the University has consolidated and broadly maintained the record 22,224 applications and dramatic overall 22% rise between 2014 and 2015 – ahead of hundreds more late applications, with Clearing and Adjustment to come in August.

It comes as UCAS figures published today showed applications had flat-lined with a 0.2% rise in total national applications in 2016 from 2015 – reflecting the 2.2% decline in the UK 18-year-old population this year. Nationally, there is a five per cent decrease in applications from those aged 20 to 24.

The strongest year-on-year application rises include Economics, Accounting, Film, Politics & International Relations, Accounting, Construction Management and Meteorology, Classics, English Literature, Agriculture, Maths & Statistics and Speech & Language Therapy.

Courses with more than seven applications per place include Film, Theatre and TV, Classics, History, Philosophy, English Literature, Biological Sciences, Pharmacy, Architecture and Geography.

Economics this year is our most in demand programme with 13 applications per place.

Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading said: "We have broadly maintained and consolidated the dramatic year on year rise – no mean feat given a tough, competitive undergraduate market. It is clear that the record number of undergraduate applications in 2015 was not a one-off.

“Overall, we have seen a steady upward trend in the last five years and a sharp rise over the last two years, despite the introduction of higher tuition fees, declining numbers of UK 18 year olds and fewer applications from older students.

"The hard work now starts to turn those applications into firm acceptances - but such a big pool means we are drawing from the brightest and the best. The bottom line is that students want great teaching, world-class research, an award-winning campus and a high employability record – all things that they can find here at the University of Reading.

“The overseas recruitment figures reflect big challenges for all UK universities in our key international markets. We are seeing the impact from global economic uncertainty and the negative message the UK’s immigration policy risks sending to the world. We are putting in place a comprehensive global engagement strategy to strengthen our overseas recruitment operation, alongside opening the University of Reading Malaysia campus.”

On the School of Architecture, Sir David said: “This is a very strong picture for the first cohort of Architecture students – with six applications per place. This is an established and lively market but we are well placed for a good showing in September.

“Our £3000 a year bursary has generated huge interest from prospective students - but we have seen enthusiasm to be part a brand new School, which draws on our established strengths in construction management, built environment and real estate.”

Full-time postgraduate taught courses starting in September 2016 has seen an overall 3% year on year increase – with 6,630 applications to date. There has a slight dip of 43 UK/EU applications to 573 but overseas applications have risen 5% with a 267 application increase to 6,057. There has been strong application growth in International Business & Management, Education and Built Environment programmes, with smaller increases in Economics; Food; Graduate Institute of Political and International Studies; and Law.