Universities warn of disaster as students shun sciences ; Record numbers confirm college places but decline in applications to science courses is `disastrous First Edition

This year's record number of A grade A-level passes mean that popular courses in subjects such as history and English have filled up almost immediately, with large numbers of well qualified applicants turned away. But universities are reporting the number seeking places on science courses such...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Independent on Sunday
Main Author Andy McSmith, Sarah Cassidy, and Severin Carrell
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London (UK) Independent Digital News & Media 22.08.2004
Subjects
Chambers, Delyth
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Summary:This year's record number of A grade A-level passes mean that popular courses in subjects such as history and English have filled up almost immediately, with large numbers of well qualified applicants turned away. But universities are reporting the number seeking places on science courses such as chemistry, physics and engineering could be the lowest ever. Top universities - such as Oxford and Cambridge - have no vacancies. A survey by The Independent on Sunday has found that many universities confirmed more places within the first 24 hours of students receiving their results than ever before. At Birmingham University, where Mrs [Delyth Chambers] is director of admissions, courses in law, psychology, history, English, medicine and dentistry have been completely filled by candidates who achieved at least the grades in their offers. One side-effect is that students with straight "C" grades or worse have been able to get places on computing or engineering courses at universities which have imposed tougher entry-level requirements on the more popular degree courses.