Applications up

Prospective undergraduate students are applying to Cardiff in increasingly large numbers according to the latest UCAS information.

To date, 31,183 applications have been received which represents an increase of 3,279, or 12 percent, on the same point in 2012. Nationally, applications have risen by only three percent.

The UCAS data indicates that Cardiff has seen an increase in UK, European and overseas applications of 10, 24 and 18 percent respectively.

Over the last year, Cardiff has significantly increased its marketing efforts in a more competitive marketplace. This has included a new EU recruitment campaign, additional visits to UK schools and colleges, extra open day events, an upgrade of the recruitment website and revamped marketing materials. The marketing campaign has also embraced the use of social media and given potential applicants direct access to rich media content and real-time testimonies from current students to help them find out more about the University, city, and what the University can offer.

Dave Roylance, Head of Undergraduate Recruitment and Widening Access, said: "Cardiff is one of the most popular universities in the UK and these impressive figures put it well ahead of the national average rise in applications. It is pleasing that the effort put into student recruitment by staff across the University is reaping rewards. However, the work is not complete and the focus must now turn to encouraging applicants to make Cardiff their firm choice.

"Students are drawn to Cardiff because of its reputation for research-led teaching, high graduate employment and because of its capital city location. Our success in recruiting undergraduate students was recently recognised byThe Telegraph, who named Cardiff as one of the UK's fastest growing universities in 2012 in terms of undergraduate enrolments."

Among the Schools and courses seeing a rise in applications are: the School of Chemistry (a 51 percent increase in applications); the School of Engineering (a 25 percent increase); the School of Computer Science and Informatics (a 33percent increase); Cardiff Law School (a 39 percent increase); Cardiff Business School (a 25 percent increase); and English Studies, (a 31 percent increase).