Opportunity knocked

THIRTY-ONE per cent of prospective higher education students failed to gain a place through the Universities and Colleges Admissions System last year, according to figures released this week.

Higher Education Statistics Authority data revealed 419,442 applied and 290,596 were offered a place. The figure was higher in 1994, when 33 per cent missed out.

Of home applicants, 28 per cent in 1995 and 31 per cent in 1994 were unsuccessful. The number of applicants rose by 4,378 to 369,701 last year, while acceptances jumped from 251,292 to 265,536.

Acceptances from women rose by 8,973 to 133,425 last year. Acceptances from men increased by only 5,1 to 132,111.

The HESA report also indicated that 41 per cent of UK domiciled students do not receive a local education authority award.

At the same time, 86,800 more loans were issued by the Student Loans Company in 1994/95 than in 1993/94, bringing the total to 517,200. This represented 55 per cent of eligible students. The total sum borrowed also leapt by Pounds 222.1 million to Pounds 538.8 million.

There were 1,601,118 students in 1994/95. Of the 1,567,313 studying in higher education, 1,403,600 were UK domiciled, while 163,713 (10.2 per cent) were overseas domiciled. Postgraduates made up 335,325 or 21.4 per cent of students.

Higher Education Statistics for the United Kingdom 1994/95. Pounds 25 from HESA Services 01242 255 577.