The latest Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) figures show that 32% of South West Bedfordshire 18 year-olds applied to university compared with 24% back in 2009. This compares with an application rate of 19% in Ashfield and 62% in Altrincham and Sale West. There is also a record high of 22.6% of disadvantaged English 18 year-olds applying to university. A major review of student financing has been announced as well as the tuition fee cap being frozen and the repayment threshold being raised to £25,000.
South West Bedfordshire MP Andrew Selous said “I’m delighted to see the number of university applications increase in the way it has. I’m also very keen to see a significant take up of apprenticeships in South West Bedfordshire.”