17 July 2024

Amanda Wilkinson, Director of Universities Wales, said:

‘Today’s UCAS data again demonstrates the scale of the participation challenge facing Wales with the number of applicants from Wales dropping to a 15-year low. We now have the lowest proportion of 18-year-olds applying for university in the UK, with the gap between Wales and the UK wider than at any point in modern history.

‘This drop has long term implications for Wales. The industries that will drive our economic growth in the decades to come rely heavily on graduates. But it’s not just our economy and public services that will be affected but also the people who would benefit from the transformative experience of higher education. We will continue to work with Welsh Government and Medr, raising these concerns and making the case for participation to be a key priority.

‘Elsewhere in the data, it is reassuring to see Wales continue to be a popular destination for students, with Welsh universities seeing the biggest increase in applications in the UK. This includes being the only part of the UK to see an increase in undergraduate international applications.’