University recruitment rises by 3.9 per cent

The number of people who have accepted a university or college place for the coming year is up by 3.9 per cent, according to figures released this week by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

But the number placed through clearing is down by 5.2 per cent, reflecting the fact that 4.4 per cent more people met their first-choice offers this year. More than 313,000 people have a university or college place.

Degrees in the most popular subjects are attracting students at the expense of higher national diplomas. For the 50 subjects that have accepted 2,000 applicants or more, there was a 5.2 per cent rise in degree places and a 14 per cent fall in HND places.