The latest UCAS figures, released on 13 February, have revealed that more UK 18-year-old applicants have applied for a university or college place than ever before.

The number of UK-18-year-olds applying by the deadline is up 2.1% (up from 316,850 in 2024 to 323,360 in 2025). Despite this increase in application numbers, the application rate for UK 18-year-olds has decreased from 41.3% in 2024 to 40.6% in 2025, due to an increase in the 18-year-old population.

The new figures also reveal a total increase in the overall number of applicants, from 594,940 in 2024 to 600,660 in 2025. However, the number of UK mature applicants (aged 21+) has decreased by 6.4% from 65,450 to 61,280, in line with recent trends of falling number of applications from mature students at this point in the cycle.

The data also suggest the UK’s higher education sector remains an attractive global destination, with a 2.7% increase in international undergraduate applicants through UCAS, compared to last year’s figures. The largest increases were in applicants from China (+2,540), Ireland (+750) and the USA (+700).

These figures come from the UCAS Equal Consideration Deadline, which took place on 29 January, which normally accounts for approximately 80% of applicants in any given cycle.