The number of students applying for full-time undergraduate applications is rising, yet this conceals a decline in the number of part-time and mature students. Jack Grove from timeshighereducation.co.uk investigates…

Charlotte von Bulow, Chief Executive of Crossfields Institute, says:

‘There are variables and multiple complex factors involved in the following questions: who chooses to go to University, who chooses not to go and who applies and doesn’t get in. There is no doubt that it has become harder to inspire and attract mature part-time students over the years. So, if the data is indeed correct, the overall picture presented in this article is perhaps not surprising. I have to agree with Mike Boxall, however, that we need to look closely at the “more complex recruitment picture faced by universities”. Before we can draw conclusions about trends, we need to investigate the methodologies used in the development of these statistics and we need to look at the recruitment and admissions reality alongside that. Maybe the picture that is presented here is connected with the social mobility question?’

Please see other articles on our blog with regard to the social mobility question.