Russell Group response to UCAS June 2023 deadline application data

13 July 2023

In response to the data for the 2023 cycle June deadline data published by UCAS today (13 July 2023), Dr Tim Bradshaw, Chief Executive of the Russell Group, said:

"We are pleased to see young people continue to be ambitious with their choices for higher education, with UK applications to higher tariff universities at a similar level to last year and significantly up on the pre-pandemic trend.

"Whilst competition for places at top universities remains high, there is a welcome increase in the proportion of students holding a firm offer from their preferred university this year. This reflects increased confidence in offer making by institutions as school exam grading returns to the pre-pandemic profile.

"Today’s figures also show that efforts to diversify international student intakes, including the new graduate visa route, are beginning to pay off, with growth in applicants from countries prioritised in the UK’s International Education Strategy like India and Nigeria. As well as bringing a range of cultural, social and economic benefits to the UK, revenue from international students is reinvested into high-quality education and research to benefit all students and UK society."

Notes to editor

Russell Group universities have grown UK student numbers in recent years, and home students continue to make up over three-quarters of our undergraduates, in line with the pre-pandemic trend. 

Figures show the number of UK 18-year-olds accepted to Russell Group universities in 2022 was up on the pre-pandemic trend, with a 12% increase on 2019 compared to a 5% rise for the equivalent international students.

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