The computing course now ranks as the seventh most popular option among students, following subjects such as allied medicine, biological and sports sciences, engineering and technology, social sciences, business and management, and design, creative, and performing arts.
Eighteen-year-olds in the United Kingdom have dominated the computing field, setting new records for college applications.
According to the latest data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, which is based on the June 30 deadline for applying to up to five courses simultaneously, there have been 94,870 applications to computing courses, the Financial Express reported.
The number marks a significant increase of 9.5 percent compared to last year’s figures, which saw 86,630 applications, and a 33.3-percent increase from 2021 which stood at 71,150 applications.
The computing course now ranks as the seventh most popular option among students, following subjects such as allied medicine, biological and sports sciences, engineering and technology, social sciences, business and management, and design, creative, and performing arts.
The surge in computing applications has been driven by the growing fascination with computer science, witnessing an 11 percent increase compared to 2022 and a remarkable 35 percent rise from 2021.
Additionally, software engineering, computer games and animation, and artificial intelligence have all experienced notable increases in applications.
There has also been a rise in the number of applications from UK 18-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a 7 percent increase from last year and a remarkable 43 percent increase from 2021.
Despite the impressive numbers, computing as a whole remains a male-dominated field, with only 18 percent of all U.K. 18-year-old applications coming from females. However, this percentage has seen a slight increase compared to previous years, with 17 percent in 2022 and 16 percent in 2021.
The rise in popularity of artificial intelligence and gaming technologies, such as ChatGPT, has contributed to the increased interest in computing fields.
The data also highlighted other significant trends in the UK education landscape.
Overall, the number of U.K. 18-year-old applicants is at the second-highest level, with 319,570 applicants in 2023, a slight decrease from 326,190 in 2022 but a positive increase from 311,010 in 2021. Moreover, the offer rate for U.K. 18-year-olds stands at 76.2 percent, demonstrating a positive outlook for prospective students.
These trends in the education sector occur amidst a complex backdrop of geopolitics, economic conditions, job market dynamics, and rising living costs.
Other key findings from the data showed a variety of circumstances affecting applicants, including their ethnic backgrounds and socio-economic situations. For instance, the number of applicants from Asian, Black, Mixed, or other ethnicities has seen a significant increase of 4.4 percent compared to previous years.
Rashik Parmar MBE, chief executive of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, emphasized the crucial role of AI in shaping the future and applauds the increasing interest in computing degrees among young people.
Parmar highlighted the need for ethics and diversity in AI development and encourages people from all backgrounds to pursue careers in the tech profession.
Clare Marchant, chief executive of UCAS, also acknowledged the influence of digital advancements, like AI, in inspiring students to study computing.
She noted the high demand for undergraduate courses during the pandemic and predicts a continued upward trajectory in higher education applications throughout the coming decade.
As the number of higher education applicants is expected to reach one million in a single year by 2030, Marchant urges students to explore the wide range of post-secondary options available, including undergraduate study and apprenticeships.
