THE number of students hoping to earn a place at the University of Bedfordshire this autumn has dropped by almost 1,500 compared to 12 months ago - but is still up on the figure from 2010.
Figures released this week by the admissions service UCAS show that 15,373 students have applied for places in September. That is an 8.8 per cent drop last year, but still up on the 14,135 applications in 2010.
This will be the first year that new university students across the country face tuition fees of up to £9,000 per year.
Head of admissions Susie King said: “In the three years to 2011, applications to study at Bedfordshire doubled.
“This year we have seen an increase in people wanting to study biological and other sciences, and nursing and midwifery are proving very popular.
“90 per cent of undergraduates from the University of Bedfordshire either in work or further study within six months.”