Figures published yesterday by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service reveal how 15,000 18-year-olds in England have been deterred by higher tuition fees. The vast majority are from families earning at least £30,000 a year.

The figures suggest they are deciding in greater numbers to bypass university and use their A-level results to look for jobs to avoid building up predicted £40,000 debts.

The number of UK university applicants has fallen 8.9 per cent, following news that universities will impose higher charges this autumn. In England, with fees considerably higher than in other home nations, demand plunged 10 per cent.

Analysis accompanying the figures reveals that the percentage of 18-year-olds applying from the poorest fifth of families in England has dipped slightly, from 19 per cent in 2011 to 18.8 per cent. These students’ families earn up to £15,000 before tax.

Among households earning up to £30,000, the proportion of applicants dropped 0.7 points to 26.5 per cent.

Demand dipped more sharply among middle-income families earning between £30,000 and £50,000, falling 1.1 points to 32.8 per cent.

Among higher-earners, with household incomes of £50,000 to £75,000, the proportion of applicants dropped 2.1 points to 40.7 per cent.

And among the richest fifth of families in England, earning at least £75,000, demand slid 2.6 points to 53.7 per cent.

‘The application rates for young people from all backgrounds have fallen in 2012 with the largest declines for those from the most advantaged backgrounds,’ the report said.

Overall, one in 20 18-year-olds in England who would have been expected to apply to university this year has failed to do so.

In contrast, in the other UK nations where fee levels are unchanged on last year, application rates ‘continue on trend’.

沪江英语快讯：根据英国大学入学委员会的统计数据，由于今年英格兰各个大学学费的强制涨价，有1万5千名放弃入学。他们表示，将绕过大学阶段，直接用自己A等的成绩找工作，否则就可能要担负4万英镑的债务。令人惊讶的是，大多数被吓退学生的家庭年收入都不低于3万英镑，而且年收入越高的家庭放弃入学的比例越高。所幸的是，英国其他地方大学学费仍保持在去年的标准。

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