The number of people applying for places at UK universities was up by 1.4 per cent this year, new figures reveal.
According to data from Ucas, there was a total of 647,008 applications made this year, up by 9,235 from 2010.
Applications from UK-based students were up 0.8 per cent to 550,147, while applications from other EU countries rose 5.8 per cent to 45,727 and applications from non-EU countries increased 4.9 per cent to 51,134.
The sharp increase will give rise to fears that a growing number of students will not be able to secure a place at a university for the coming academic year.
Aaron Porter, NUS president, told the Press Association: “Last year over a quarter of a million qualified and ambitious young people missed out on a deserved place at university.
“This year the government has failed to add to the number of university places, withdrawing a small previously planned rise, meaning we are likely to see an increase in the numbers being denied a place.”