Looming rise in university applicants to one million per year

Experts warn of challenges for disadvantaged students in essays published by Ucas

University applicants are expected to number around one million per year by 2030, presenting “heightened competition” for disadvantaged students.

Population growth, an increasing desire among young people for higher education and more participation among mature students will drive a 30 per cent rise in applications by the end of the decade, the admissions service Ucas said, increasing to one million from around 750,000 in 2022.