Almost 50,000 would-be students could be denied a place at university this year, as new figures show a surge in applications.
Applications to UK universities have risen by 9.7% in the last year, figures published by Ucas, which manages applications to higher education courses, show.
Ministers have been accused of "sleepwalking into a crisis" for not taking action.
The record rise is thought to have been fuelled by workers hit by the recession deciding to return to education.
The Ucas figures show an 18.8% rise in applicants over the age of 25, and a 14.9% rise in applicants aged 21-24.
This will put an extra squeeze on places, already under pressure after the Government announced that no more than 10,000 extra places would be funded this autumn. The cap was partly due to a £200 million shortfall in the budget of the defunct Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
It is thought just 3,000 of these extra places are for full-time first year students.
The latest figures, from a snapshot taken on June 30, show that 592,312 people have applied to start full-time undergraduate courses at university this September, compared with 540,108 at the same time last year - an extra 52,204 applicants.
If the Government does fund just 3,000 extra places for full-time first year students, it means about 49,000 people will miss out, although this number could be even higher by the time all applications, including those who apply through clearing, are counted.
This is on top of the 100,000 applicants who are turned down because they don't make the grade requirements, apply too late or drop out.
Read More
MORE ABOUT