UCAS: women more likely to apply to university than men - Telegraph.co.uk

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Women are pulling ahead of men in the race for university places amid a
widening gender gap at the heart of the higher education system, it has
emerged.

Figures released on Thursday show that women are significantly more likely to
make applications this year following warnings from admissions experts that
men are fast becoming an “under-represented group”.

According to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, applications
from women increased by four per cent this year, compared with a three per
cent rise among men.

It is the first time in the last five years that the rise in demand among
women has outstripped that for men – widening the gap between the sexes to a
record level.

The figures mirror the pattern at schools and colleges, where girls outperform
boys at every age group and subject discipline. Last summer, girls’ lead
over boys at GCSE level widened to a record point, with almost 25 per cent
of exams sat by girls being graded A* or A, compared with less than 18 per
cent of those taken by boys.

But university leaders warned that women were still failing to apply to
practical courses in subjects such as science, engineering and technology.

The disclosure was made as UCAS reported an overall surge in the number of
applications for degree courses starting this autumn.

In all, 659,000 applications had been made by the end of June – the official
deadline – up by 23,000 in just 12 months.

It represented a rise of four per cent compared with 2013 and shows overall
demand for university is now at the second highest level on record. The
application rate was only eclipsed by the same point in 2011 when
universities reported a surge in demand just before annual student tuition
fees increased to £9,000.

The rise reflects a softening of opposition to fee rises combined with growing
confidence in the economy as more school leavers prioritise higher skills
over an immediate pay packet.

According to UCAS, the increase is being fuelled by rising demand among
foreign students, with applications from EU member states increasing by five
per cent and those from outside Europe soaring by six per cent.

A record 10,730 applicants were from China, 6,570 were from Hong Kong and
6,180 from Malaysia – more than any other countries.

Foreign students pay higher fees than their British counterparts – making them
increasingly attractive to universities.

The figures also showed:

• Mid-ranking universities – those with average entrance requirements – saw
the biggest rise in applications overall this year, but foreign students are
more likely to target top universities, with more than half of all
applications from this group being made to institutions with the highest
entry grades;

• The biggest rise in applications was for technology degrees (up 13 per
cent), followed by computer science (12 per cent) and engineering (10 per
cent), reflecting claims from business leaders that more highly-skilled
graduates are needed in practical disciplines;

• Some of the biggest drops were seen in language degrees, with demand for
European and non-European language courses plummeting by five per cent –
more than any other discipline – following concerns over a decline in pupils
studying the subjects to a high level at school.

The data also showed large differences between the sexes, with applications
rising quicker among women than men.

In all, women made 376,860 applications, up four per cent, compared with
282,170 from men, up three per cent.

The gap – 94,690 – was the widest on record and compared with a gulf of 86,630
seen in 2013. It reverses a recent trend that has seen men close the gap on
women.

Speaking last year, Mary Curnock Cook, the UCAS chief executive, said men
should now be seen as an underrepresented group. She said the “very worrying
difference between application rates for men and women” should now be
treated as an “important widening participation issue” in its own right.

But speaking today, university leaders said women were still
disproportionately less likely to apply to engineering-style courses.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, which represents
vice-chancellors, said: “The increase in applicants applying for subjects
such as engineering and computing is also welcome. Those subjects play a
vital role in meeting the skills needs of UK employers in globally
competitive industries.

“However, it is still a concern that the number of women applying to study
these courses remains disproportionally low when compared to the number of
male applicants. Universities are aware of this and continue to work hard to
encourage women into technology and engineering through their outreach
activities.

But Prof Les Ebdon, head of the Office for Fair Access, Director of Fair
Access to Higher Education, said: “These figures are excellent news.
Applicants are clearly recognising the advantages of higher education, and
are embarking on a potentially life-changing journey.

“At the same time, our economy and society will continue to benefit from a
consistent supply of highly-qualified graduates.”