The government says undergraduate numbers have 'returned to record levels'. There was a 17% fall in the number of first year undergraduates at UK universities in the first year of higher tuition fees, official figures show. In 2012-13 UK universities were allowed to treble their yearly fees to £9,000. England saw a 12% fall in new full-time undergraduate students overall. The government acknowledged the fall but stressed that demand for full time higher education has already "returned to record levels". A spokesperson for Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said the figures were influenced by a higher number of students taking up places the previous year, rather than having a gap year. "A reduction in entrants in 2012 was well documented and the numbers were affected by the significant number of students who opted not to defer their place from the year before," she said. 'Direct consequence' The decline had not continued into the current year, she added. "Application rates for some of the most disadvantaged young people have risen to an all time high in England and more students than ever before are being successful in securing a place at their first choice institution." The figures, collated by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa), are official confirmation of other indications that there was a fall in the number of people going to university last year. Previously released figures had shown declines in applications and offers of places, and the admissions body Ucas also reported a fall. In Scotland, where the government still pays for the tuition of Scottish students studying within the country, there was a 2% rise in the number of students taking up places on full-time undergraduate courses. The academics' union, UCU, however, said the overall decline was a direct consequence of the rise in tuition fees. The union's general secretary, Sally Hunt, said it was "no great surprise that the number of students going to university fell off considerably". She also believes there may be long-term effects. "Only the government seemed to think the policy was progressive and, while we have seen a recovery in the number of people applying to university, the fear remains that some may never fulfil their potential because of the new funding regime," she added. The Hesa figures also show a one per cent decline in non-EU students coming to the UK to study. A rise in the numbers of students from China and Hong Kong was off-set by a 25% fall in Indian students. It has previously been suggested they are being put off from the expense of study in the UK by a fall in the value of the rupee, and by improvements in Indian universities. |
英國政府表示本科生數(shù)量“降至新低”。 官方數(shù)據(jù)顯示,在第一年高昂的學(xué)費(fèi)面前,英國大學(xué)的本科生的數(shù)量減少了17%。 在2012-13年間,英國大學(xué)被默許增加每年的學(xué)費(fèi)至9000英鎊。 英格蘭新的全日制本科學(xué)生整體減少了12%。 政府承認(rèn)總體數(shù)量有所減少,但強(qiáng)調(diào)對全日制高等教育的需求已經(jīng)“回到過去的水平”。 英國政府商業(yè)創(chuàng)新和技術(shù)部的發(fā)言人表示,這數(shù)據(jù)受到了一些學(xué)生的影響,他們更多是提前一年申請上大學(xué)的,而不是選擇間隔年。 她表示:“2012年的新生的減少也揭示,新生數(shù)量受到相當(dāng)一部分學(xué)生的影響,他們沒有選擇從一年前推遲他們的位置?!?/p> "直接的后果" 下降并沒持續(xù)到今年,她補(bǔ)充道。 “在英國,一些處于弱勢地位的年輕人的申請率已升到了一個前所未有的高度,比以往更多的學(xué)生成功地在他們的首選學(xué)校取得了一席之位?!?/p> 由英國高等教育統(tǒng)計局整理的數(shù)據(jù),可以作為去年上大學(xué)人數(shù)減少跡象的官方確認(rèn)。 此前發(fā)布的數(shù)據(jù)顯示申請數(shù)和錄取通知書發(fā)放數(shù)量有所下降,招生機(jī)構(gòu)英國高校聯(lián)合招生委員會也報道了下降。 而在蘇格蘭,政府仍然為蘇格蘭學(xué)生在國內(nèi)的學(xué)習(xí)付費(fèi),全日制本科生人數(shù)總體有2%的增長。 大學(xué)聯(lián)盟總秘長——薩莉.亨特表示,上大學(xué)的學(xué)生人數(shù)大幅度減少沒什么好驚訝的。 她還認(rèn)為這可能存在長期影響。 她表示:“只有政府認(rèn)為政策是進(jìn)步的,雖然我們已經(jīng)看到申請大學(xué)的數(shù)量在恢復(fù),但由于新的融資制度,人們?nèi)匀挥蓄檻],而有些人可能永遠(yuǎn)不會實(shí)現(xiàn)他們的潛力?!?/p> 英國高等教育統(tǒng)計局整理的數(shù)據(jù)同時顯示了非歐盟學(xué)生來英國上大學(xué)人數(shù)減少了1%。 而來自中國內(nèi)地和香港學(xué)生人數(shù)的上升被印度學(xué)生下降了25%的數(shù)量所抵消。 之前有跡象表明,由于盧比的貶值和印度大學(xué)整體的進(jìn)步,印度的學(xué)生在英國高昂的留學(xué)費(fèi)用面前望而卻步。 (譯者 歐公子 編輯 丹妮) |