This year, a record number of 18-year-olds in the UK have been accepted to university or college, with almost a 3% increase compared to last year, according to new UCAS data.

This exciting trend shows that more young people are taking the next step towards their future careers by pursuing higher education.

Now take a look at the key highlights from the report:

• 277,790 18-year-olds in the UK have secured a place on undergraduate courses, up from 270,350 last year (an increase of 2.8%).
• In total, 498,340 students from all ages and places have been accepted to university, which is a small rise from last year (493,940, up by 0.9%).
• However, this number is still lower than the peak of 515,650 in 2020 (a decrease of 3.4%).

Noticeable trends:

• The increase in university places is mainly thanks to more UK 18-year-olds being accepted.
• There has been a slight drop in the number of mature students (21 and older), with 64,180 accepted this year, down from 66,360 in 2023 (-3.3%).
• The number of international students receiving offers has also gone down slightly, from 61,470 last year to 61,110 this year (-0.6%).

So, while more young people are going to university, the number of older and international students has decreased a bit.

Dr Jo Saxton CBE, UCAS Chief Executive, stated: “This year we have seen a small increase in the number of students getting a place at university, driven by a rise in the number of UK 18- year-olds. At the same time, the figures show there are challenges with mature and international acceptances.

“There has also been a high number of applicants using Clearing, with students seemingly motivated by plenty of choice this cycle, giving the opportunity to pursue an alternative option they may not have previously considered or thought was out of reach.

“I firmly believe in the life-changing power of higher education and it’s good to see higher education remains a popular choice, with so many going on to study a course that excites them and which they’re passionate about as their next step towards a fulfilling and rewarding career."

However, It's great to see more young people heading to university and starting their journey towards a global career. The rise in university acceptances for 18-year-olds shows a bright future ahead.

At AHZ, we're excited to support these students and help them achieve their dreams. We're here to guide even more students towards success!