Labour North West

With you in tough times

North West hit hard by drop in university applications

NEW figures from UCAS show university applications from the North West for 2012 have fallen by 9.4 per cent compared to last year.

University applications from the region are down 5,498; from 58,371 in 2011 to 52,873 this year.

The North West is one of the hardest hit regions in the country, overall applications to universities from UK students are down by 8.7 per cent.

Shabana Mahmood MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Higher Education, said:

“The UCAS application figures show that the decision of the Tory-led Government to treble tuition fees to £9,000 is hitting young people and their aspirations. With overall applications down by 8.7% compared to 2011, it is clear that the drastic increase in fees and the increased debt burden is putting people of all ages off going to university and investing their future.

“Labour would reverse the corporation tax cut for banks and use the money now to help cut fees to a maximum of £6,000. That is the difference between Labour, which makes investing in skills and knowledge a priority, and a Tory-led Government that will restrict opportunity and damage the future of our economy."

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