University applications up in 'at risk' subjects
The new UCAS figures may make interesting reading for universities considering closing departments. Maths, chemistry and physics are all subjects deemed to be "at risk" because of falling demand, but applications in all three areas rose this year.
The number of people applying for chemistry rose by 9.8% to 19,112; for maths by 10.6% to 29,335; and for physics by 12.4% to 17,602. Last year the increases in chemistry and maths were 6.5% and 16.8% respectively, while physics applications were down 9.8%.
The top ten
Law was the most popular option for prospective students for the fourth year in a row. A total of 98,473 people applied for the subject, and although that was down 1.8% on last year it is still more than in previous years.
The next most popular subject was psychology with 86,295 applications, up 8.4% from 2004, followed by medicine and design studies. Business, computer science and English also featured in the top ten. Nursing, with 54,024 applications, saw a rise of 28.6%, indicating that the government's attempts to recruit more nurses may be having some success.
On the up
Social work had the biggest increase in applications this year, by 69.9% to 51,165, while complementary medicine rose by 50.4% to 1,566. Other big risers were food and beverage studies, building and dance.
The three least popular subject areas were artificial intelligence, information services and maritime technology, with 1672 applicants between them. The biggest fall in applications came in non-European languages – worrying news for the intelligence services, perhaps – followed by business and admin studies.
Send this article to a friend