Grounds for optimism on autumn starts for home students

UCAS data show increased acceptances among UK students, but deferrals rise among international applicants

Fears that home students will stay away from universities in the next academic year may prove to be misplaced, but deferrals among international students from outside the European Union have jumped more than 20 per cent.

Data from the admissions body UCAS reveal a 1 per cent increase in the number of UK-domiciled students accepting places this September, from 408,220 in 2019 to 410,420 in 2020. The rise is accompanied by a 2 per cent drop in the deferral rate, from 19,200 to 18,910.