Welsh university applications fall this year

New data from UCAS shows that only 32.5 per cent of Welsh 18-year-olds had applied to university by the end of June this year, compared to 41.2 per cent across the UK.

All countries in the United Kingdom, except Wales, saw an increase in university applications, with the overall number of applications from the UK increasing from 521,300 in 2024 to 526,610.

In England, 438,110 applications were made in 2024, which increased to 442,720 in 2025. This increase comes after a sharp fall from 2023 to 2024.

Applications to universities from Scotland have been on the increase, with 45,040 made in 2024, and 45, 610 in 2025.

In Northern Ireland, applications also dropped sharply from 2023 to 2024, but rose this year from 17,190 to 17,440.

The percentage of 18-year-olds from different parts of the UK applying to university decreased for all but Scotland, with 33.9 per cent of young Scots applying in 2024 and 34.5 per cent applying to university in 2025.

42.8 per cent of 18-year-olds domiciled in England applied to university in 2024, while 42 per cent applied in 2025. There are similar trends in Northern Ireland and Wales: with 48.9 per cent of the former (down from 50.1 per cent), and 32.5 per cent (down from 33.7 per cent) in the latter applying to universities.

Wales and Scotland, in particular, ar much lower than the national application rate of 41.2 per cent.