Writtle University College has bucked the national trend and seen a substantial increase in applications for courses starting this year.

There has been a 13 per cent rise in the number of UCAS applications for courses at the Lordship Road college, despite a national decline in the number of students applying for higher education places over the past 12 months.

The growth in applications to the college doesn’t just come from within the UK, but also from EU applications, with a 15 per cent increase from EU countries, and the rest of the world, with a 79 per cent increase from international applications.

While the main UCAS deadline has now passed, the college is reminding prospective students there are still opportunities to apply for courses that start this September, and is encouraging them to get in touch and attend an open day.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Stephen Waite said: “The latest application numbers are very encouraging. What we have seen is a significant spike in interest for our specialist portfolio of courses.

"We achieved University College status last year and that is clearly having a positive impact, in addition to our ongoing investment in facilities and academic expertise.

“One of the key messages we aim to communicate is that there are a huge range of job opportunities available to those who have studied our courses and we appreciate that this is key for many students when deciding what and where to study.

“There is a big demand from employers for people that are trained and qualified in the land-based and related subjects we teach. We can see a growing trend of people becoming more aware of the importance of the subjects we offer and the scope and diversity of career opportunities that are available to them after graduation.

“We are still welcoming applications for all of our courses. Students and parents can be assured that when they study with us at WUC, they are valued as an individual, part of a community and given the skills and personal guidance they need within small class sizes. This is a significant advantage of studying at a small and specialist institution like Writtle University College. It is part of what makes us unique.”