Fashion courses see drop in applications

Universities & Colleges Admissions Services has announced that there has been an overall drop of 7.4 per cent in applications for university starters in autumn, with creative art and design courses suffering a dramatic 16 per cent

 decline in prospective students.

The worst hit fashion institute was the University for Creative Arts, which suffered a 29.7 per cent drop. This was followed by the Arts University College Bournemouth, which saw a decrease of 19.2 per cent; and the University of the Arts London, which houses both of the UK’s prestigious design colleges, London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins saw a decline of 19 per cent.

England has been hit significantly with a 9.9 per cent drop in overall applications, whereas figures for university applications made in Scotland were only down 1.5 per cent and Wales 1.9 per cent. This comes as tuition fees are set to rise to £9,000 a year for students starting higher education in September, after the Government cut English university budgets in 2010.

As well as drop in applications UCAS also noted the widening of an ongoing gender gap, with almost 80,000 more female applicants this year.

“These figures are very worrying and once again highlight the Government’s folly in raising tuition fees to as much as £9,000 a year,” said general secretary of the University and College Union, Sally Hunt. “We cannot afford a system that puts people off university if we are to compete in the modern world.”

These figures are based on the January ‘equal consideration’ deadline for university applications, however UCAS will still send applications to universities and colleges up until June 30. Last year a further 116,000 people applied through UCAS between January and the end of the cycle.

Image: University for Creative Arts Prospectus