Record Numbers of Students Seek Admission in UK Universities
By Raza Mumtaz 'Pakistan Times' Executive Editor/UK Bureau Chief

LONDON (UK): Pakistan is among those countries whose students are increasingly seeking admissions in British Universities this autumn.

Figures published by UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, on Thursday show an overall 6.4 per cent rise in applications.

It means 395,307 applicants trying to enter higher education in 2007, compared with 371,683 at this time last year. In England, where the top-up fees regime is in place, the rise is even higher - 7.1 per cent.

Given the volume of applications, this could raise pressure on the Government to lift the current cap of three thousand pounds on top-up fees.

The numbers applying from outside the European Union has risen by 6.6 per cent to 23,570.

Among the biggest rises were from Pakistan (19.1 per cent), India (13.8 per cent), the US (12.3 per cent) and Hong Kong (10.3 per cent).

Among EU countries, big risers were Romania (up 200 per cent to 222) and Bulgaria (up 183.7 per cent to 400).

Ministers also welcomed a rise in the numbers opting for strategic subjects such as maths and science.

Physics applications were up 12.2 per cent, chemistry 11.3 per cent, biology 6 per cent, maths 10 per cent and combined maths and computer science 15.8 per cent and civil engineering 10.3 per cent.

There was also a boost to foreign languages with German up by 19.6 per cent and French by 6.8 per cent.

Meanwhile, the British Government is to pledge more cash aid totalling 600 million pounds,to help universities raise more cash from private donors.

Under the scheme, the Government will provide one pound for every two pounds raised by universities over a three-year period.

The aim is to promote a culture of giving in the UK similar to that which exists in the US - where top universities such as Harvard raise about 30 million pounds a year and have 15 billionn pounds in endowments.●