![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/demand-for-prestigious-degrees-falls-for-first-time-in-eight-years/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/TELEMMGLPICT000306022994_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg&description=Demand for Oxbridge places and other prestigious degree courses such as medicine has fallen for the first time in eight years, new figures reveal. The number of aspiring students on such courses, which have an earlier application deadline than for other university degrees, has fallen by 3,720, or almost five per cent, to 74,090. It represents the first decline after eight years of rising numbers of applicants, according to figures published by Ucas, the university admissions service. Pupils faced record competition for places at the most prestigious universities last year amid a rise in the number of 18-year-olds in the UK population and increasing demand from international applicants. However, the number of aspiring students for medicine degrees for the 2023-24 academic year has fallen by 9.7 per cent to 26,820, wiping out much of the increased demand seen during the pandemic. 5% drop in number of Cambridge applicants The number of Cambridge applicants has fallen by five per cent, which was driven by a seven per cent decline in demand from UK students. At Oxford, applications have declined by 2.6 per cent to 23,173. However, its decline has been driven by a drop in overseas and EU applications, which were down 6.4 per cent and 12.2 per cent respectively, whereas applications from UK students were up 0.4 per cent. Clare Marchant, chief executive of Ucas, said that young people were considering their choices "against a backdrop of rising living costs". "While we saw exceptional growth in the most selective courses during the Covid-19 pandemic, as ambitious students were inspired to study medicine, it is encouraging to see this year's figures are much higher than pre-pandemic levels," she said. "Demand for these courses, and for places at Oxford and Cambridge, remains strong and there will still be stiff competition for places at UK medical schools." The early deadline for Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses typically represents about 10 per cent of){kind=link}
Number of aspiring students for Oxbridge courses and other highly competitive degrees such as medicine has fallen by almost five per cent
Demand for Oxbridge places and other prestigious degree courses such as medicine has fallen for the first time in eight years, new figures reveal.
The number of aspiring students on such courses, which have an earlier application deadline than for other university degrees, has fallen by 3,720, or almost five per cent, to 74,090.
It represents the first decline after eight years of rising numbers of applicants, according to figures published by Ucas, the university admissions service.
Pupils faced record competition for places at the most prestigious universities last year amid a rise in the number of 18-year-olds in the UK population and increasing demand from international applicants.