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**Number of poorer students also hits record level, but international numbers fall, Ucas data show**
A record number of British 18-year-olds accepted a place in higher education in 2024—including record numbers from poorer backgrounds, according to Ucas data.
The admissions agency’s end of cycle report, published on 12 December, showed a 2.9 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of 18-year-olds entering university or college, with over 279,000 accepted this year. Overall, the number of accepted applicants for all ages and domiciles is up 1.9 per cent to almost 565,000.
The figures mean 36.4 per cent of UK 18-year-olds will enter higher education, up 0.7 percentage points on 2023 and the first year-on-year increase since 2021.
The number of acceptances for young people from the poorest regions was up 5 per cent in England, 12 per cent in Scotland and 0.5 per cent in Northern Ireland. In Wales the number was down 1.7 per cent.
The number of UK-domiciled mature students (aged over 21) who accepted a place also grew compared to last year, rising from just under 106,200 in 2023 to almost 109,800 in 2024, the Ucas figures show.
The number of international applicants accepted onto courses in 2024 has decreased by 2.3 per cent compared with the 2023 cycle, though most international undergraduates do not apply for UK universities via Ucas.
Jo Saxton, Ucas chief executive, said: “I am pleased to see an increased number of UK 18-year-olds accepting places at universities and colleges in 2024. But what I’m even more delighted about, is that we are seeing record numbers of disadvantaged students taking this important next step.
“Removing barriers—both real and perceived is an absolute priority for us, and it’s encouraging to see those numbers growing.”