The number of poorer students applying for places at UK universities is increasing, despite a recent hike in tuition fees.
According to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas), one in five 18-year-olds from the most deprived parts of the country are hoping to begin a degree in September for £9,000 a year, while demand among young people from wealthier backgrounds is stalling.
Figures from the body revealed almost 559,000 students working towards their A-levels submitted Ucas applications by the January 15th deadline, a rise of 3.5 per cent since the same time last year.
However, Pam Tatlow, chief executive of university thinktank Million+, noted although the modest improvement is welcome, submissions are still down compared to January 2011 and January 2010.
She added: “There is a long way to recovery and the government needs to do much more to promote the value of higher education.”
This comes after ministers revealed universities can take on as many students as they like who have at least two A grades and a B at A-level and this is being extended in 2013 to cover people who achieve ABB.