The number of applications rose by 3.9 per cent overall in the past year according to new figures from UCAS.However the number of Scottish applications rose by 8.8 per cent, compared to 2.7 per cent from England and Northern Ireland and 1.2 per cent from Wales.

Forum Response: Universities UK

Diana Warwick, chief executive of Universities UK, told ePolitix.com: "We are pleased to see that so many applications to higher education have been made this year: clear evidence that more people than ever are deciding that a university education is important for their future.

"It also shows that UK universities retain their high reputation and are innovative in attracting new students nationally and internationally.

"We hope that the impact of widening participation initiatives undertaken in universities will enable more people from lower socio-economic backgrounds to consider higher education, and will cause the number of students in the UK to continue to rise."