200,000 fail to win university place as record number apply

Almost one in three students failed to secure a place at university this year, new figures show.

More than 200,000 were rejected, compared with 156,000 last year. The University and College Admissions Service statistics show there was a record number of applicants this year.

Seventy per cent were successful, compared with 75 per cent last year. The last time there was a similar rejection rate was in 1995.

The figures show more than 688,000 students applied for a university place, compared with 633,000 the previous year. Experts predict even more student s will be disappointed next year.

Mary Curnock Cook, chief executive of Ucas, warned of a "massive influx" of candidates who will be trying to avoid the higher tuition fees that are set to be introduced from 2012.

Professor Les Ebdon, chairman of million+, which represents new universities, said: "There will be an absolute stampede because 2011 will be the last year before a whacking rise in fees come in — go now and save yourself an extra £20,000 of debt." Universities have been banned from taking on more students. Institutions that exceeded their quotaslast year and this were fined £3,700 per extra student.

The number of places available next year is not expected to rise because of budget cuts.

It comes after the Labour government pledged to get 50 per cent of young people into higher education after they came to power in 1997.

The coalition has announced that students will have to pay more for higher education. A report by Lord Brown recommended lifting the cap on tuition fees, with some elite universities expected to charge up to £12,000 from 2012.

Tom Griffiths, founder of gapyear.com, said the Government should introduce an exemption clause for those taking a year out before university, as they did the last time fees went up. He said: "We'll lobby them to do so again. If there is a financial difference we will see more people trying to get straight into university."