Christmas NDM number 3

University applications by UK students down 1% on last year :

. Ucas interim figures come a month after George Osborne announced cap on the number of undergraduates to be axed

Facts :

. University applications by UK students have dropped by 1% from 264,860 at this time last year to 263,460
. Overall 303,750 people submitted university applications by 16 December 2013. Updated figures will be announced after the final Ucas deadline on 15 January.
. The interim figures show that there has been a 4% dip in applications from Northern Ireland and applications in Scotland remained around the same on 14,110.
. There has been a 2% rise in applicants from Wales and a 5% rise in applications from outside the EU.
. The figures come just a month after George Osborne announced that the cap on the number of undergraduate students will be axed next year, in an effort to strengthen the UK's long-term economic competitiveness.
. The university thinktank million+ has called on the government to do more to promote the benefits of studying at university
.