As summer approaches so do deadlines for university applications. There has been a surge in university applications from age groups between 21 and 25 years. This may result in many young people that are looking to escape the recession by re-qualifying or improving their current qualifications, being rejected by their chosen university.

The surge in applications has increased by 14.7%, a significant increase compared to last year. This increase in applications is sure to clash with the government’s plans to cut back on the number of extra students it is ready to fund. Back in January, ministers agreed to fund up to 10, 000 students this year which means 5,000 places have been lost. This in turn will mean that about 28,000 potential students will be rejected by their chosen universities in a bid to lower costs.

As the summer months wear on, late applications are also set to increase as the economy heads for further deterioration. People are looking to improve their chances of getting a job by improving their qualifications; others on the other hand would rather sit out the rest of the credit crunch in a classroom.

Vice chancellors have recognised the increase in levels of interest for higher education as an encouraging factor, but they have also stressed that students will face ‘fierce competition’ when applying. Subjects such as law, psychology, nursing, medicine and design studies are amongst the most popular subjects in the country. Fears have risen regarding university’s under-recruiting students in a bid to make sure that their university reaches its student quota. University's risk large financial penalties if they exceed the set student quota.

The chief executive of the Million+ university group Tom Tatlow, has said that the government’s decision on limiting the number of university places may backfire and add to the economic problems, “It would be unthinkable if thousands of students were unable to improve their chances of future employment by being deprived of the opportunity to go to universities which have the capacity to teach them.”

A hefty £200m ‘black hole’ in the financial budget has meant that a further £400m will have to be made up with an ‘efficiency drive’ targeting all universities asking them to rein in their costs.

Stephen Williams, a spokesman for the Liberal Democrats commented on who is to blame: “If ministers hadn't botched up the funding last year, more of these people would be able to get the skills they need to secure themselves a better future.”

David Willets, the Shadow Higher Education Secretary expressed his views on the ministers  and said that they were ‘paving the way’ for disappointment in students wishing to land a place at their chosen university. Willets went onto express the unfair prospect facing young people who will be forced into the abysmal job market.