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<p>The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) publish data on the number
of applicants by the 30 June deadline. Note that UCAS data covers applications to
full-time undergraduate courses only.</p><p>Data for the 2017 cycle is available here:</p><p><a
href="https://www.ucas.com/corporate/data-and-analysis/ucas-undergraduate-releases/2017-cycle-applicant-figures-june-deadline-0"
target="_blank">https://www.ucas.com/corporate/data-and-analysis/ucas-undergraduate-releases/2017-cycle-applicant-figures-june-deadline-0</a></p><p>Figures
on the overall number of applicants and EU applicants are in Table I.2 of the <em>Summary
statistics of applicants</em> file:</p><p><a href="https://www.ucas.com/file/115901/download?token=bzdJIyHR"
target="_blank">https://www.ucas.com/file/115901/download?token=bzdJIyHR</a></p><p>Figures
on the number of applicants by age are in Table I.7.2 of the <em>Analysis of applicants
by single age</em> file:</p><p><a href="https://www.ucas.com/file/115936/download?token=xzHV52xz"
target="_blank">https://www.ucas.com/file/115936/download?token=xzHV52xz</a></p><p>Widening
access to higher education (HE) is a priority for this Government, and everyone with
the talent and potential to succeed in HE should have the opportunity to do so, regardless
of their background. Good progress has been made, with 18 year olds from disadvantaged
backgrounds 43% more likely to go to university now than in 2009, but we want to do
more.</p><p>That is why we continue to push for improvement in these areas. Through
the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, the Office for Students will have a statutory
duty to promote equality of opportunity in access and participation for all students.
The Act introduces a Transparency Duty that will require HE institutions to publish
data on the access and success of certain groups of students. Greater transparency
will push universities to build on what has already been achieved.</p><p>Our guidance
to the Director for Fair Access in 2016 asked him to encourage institutions to make
more effort in the area of recruiting more mature learners and this is reflected in
guidance to institutions on access agreements. We are removing barriers to the growth
of accelerated courses, which particularly appeal to mature students.</p><p> </p><p>The
Government is listening to the sector’s concerns about Brexit and has taken action
to provide greater certainty. We have announced that EU students starting their courses
in the academic year 18/19 or before will continue to be eligible for student loans
and home fee status for the duration of their course.</p>
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