There was a 7.1%increase in global undergraduate applications via UCAS in between 2025 and 2026, representing the greatest numbers on record.
International applicants using the organisation’s platform leapt from 138,460 in 2025 to 148,350.
UCAS is striving to get rid of barriers to development and assistance students make informed decisions Jo Saxton
, UCAS China (38,000 applicants), India (11,470), the US (8,270), Ireland (6,880) and Hong Kong (4,990) stay the most significant undergraduate markets, according to information released today after the June application deadline.
< img width="1024"height="533"src ="// www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20533'%3E%3C/svg%3E "alt =""/ > Picture: UCAS The organisation stressed that its data just showed part of
international undergraduate admissions. UCAS chief executive Jo Saxton stated that in spite of the information– which likewise saw a (5%) increase in domestic 18-year-olds using by the June 30 deadline– she was “acutely aware” of the monetary pressures dealing with trainees in an “unpredictable financial environment”.
“UCAS is working hard to remove barriers to development and help students make informed decisions,” she stated.
< img width= "1024"height="532" src="// www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20532'%3E%3C/svg%3E "alt=" "/ > Image: UCAS It comes after it was exposed that proceeds from the upcoming levy on the income Englsh institutions make on insternational trainee costs will go towards funding manintenance grants for domestic trainees.
The levy has actually proved to be controversial for the UK market, with critics cautioning that the policy might see a visible drop in interest from an international market– with trainees from price-senstive sending out nations less most likely to study at English organizations if the levy’s expenses led to greater charges.
In 2015, UCAS exposed a record variety of Chinese students obtaining UK undergraduate programs using its platform– a massive 10% increase on the previous year.
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