Headline figures from UCAS show another record year for applicants to higher education - the fourth year running that full-time undergraduate applications have seen an increase. And once again applications for engineering subjects have risen significantly.

Concurring with the rise in applications for registration experienced by the Engineering Council over the past year, UCAS believes that the current economic situation is causing people to apply to higher education as a way of re-training, to ready themselves for the job market once the economy picks up.

Applications for engineering programmes overall have risen an average of 16.15%, with aerospace and general engineering subjects both seeing a 22.60% rise in those applying. Mechanical engineering remains the most popular course with almost double the amount of applications received by others.  Its applications have risen by close to 20%, a similar figure to that in 2009.

Confirming that the long period of decline is over, the increase in applications for electronic and electrical engineering courses continues to build on last year's growth, rising by another 16.30% over the past year.  As in previous years, chemical, process and energy engineering continues to increase steadily, with an 8.00% increase on last year.

For further details please visit: http://www.ucas.ac.uk/about_us/media_enquiries/media_releases/2010/080210b