Data from UCAS shows the second-highest number of UK 18-year-olds on record (319,570) applied to Higher Education in 2023 - topped only by last year’s record high (326,190).

Other findings from the data taken at the 30 June UCAS deadline for applying for up to five courses at the same time include:

• More UK 18-year-old applicants (76.2%) were given offers this year compared with the same point last year (73.9%).
• The most-popular subject areas are: business and management (184,000 applications); social sciences (178,680); subjects allied to medicine (156,460); design, creative and performing arts (126,310); biological and sports sciences (105,490); and engineering and technology (96,180).
• Applications for computing courses (94,870 applications) went up by nearly 10% making computing the seventh most popular course this year.  This rise in applications is driven by interest in courses for computer science, software engineering, computer games and animation, and artificial intelligence.
• 1,740 people with predicted T Levels have applied to Higher Education this year, up from 490 last year. 
• The number of course applications that were originally made but since deferred by UK 18-year-olds stood at just over 72,000 on the 30 June applications deadline.  Clearing - the process for Higher Education Institutions to fill places - began on 5 July.
• As with last year’s record-breaking figure, 40.7% of UK 18-year-old applications were to higher tariff universities.  Applications to medium tariff universities from UK 18-year-olds remained similar to last year at 31%, whilst applications to lower tariff universities from UK 18-year-olds fell slightly to 28.3%*.