College admissions numbers plummet below 50,000 mark
In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) has reported a significant shift in the number of applicants for the first phase of the exam this year. With 49,595 applicants, the 2022 figure is just 9,046 fewer than the surge seen in 2020.
The increased applicant count in 2020 was likely due to the temporary change in the rules for accessing higher education, as the pandemic disrupted traditional methods of assessment and preparation. However, this year's applicant number is close to the 2018 level of 49,362 students.
The drop in applicants this year may be attributed to several factors. Firstly, a smaller eligible population due to demographic declines in many countries. Secondly, pandemic-related disruption to assessment and preparation, policy changes to grading and admissions, and financial pressures on students and families.
The disruption to exams and grading in 2020 and 2021 led to unusually high A-level attainment and affected progression to higher education in 2021/22 and 2022/23. This, combined with economic hardship from the pandemic and rising costs of higher education, may have caused some students to delay or forgo applying, reducing applicant counts in early admission phases.
Additionally, institutional responses such as "test-optional" moves, changing admissions practices, or perceived lower chances of admission due to temporary grade inflation or increased competition in later cycles, can cause applicants to shift away from an initial phase.
Furthermore, student associations have expressed concerns about the lack of affordable housing for students and the financial difficulties families face in supporting a child studying away from home. These financial difficulties can potentially dissuade young people from pursuing higher education.
The Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) provides data on the number of applicants for the first phase of the exam, and it is recommended to consult the relevant exam authority or national education statistics for precise year-by-year applicant numbers to gain a clearer understanding of the trends in higher education applications.
In the context of economic hardship from the pandemic and rising costs of higher education, some students might have chosen to delay or forgo applying for education-and-self-development, potentially reducing the number of applicants for early admission phases, as shown in the general-news of this year's 2022 applicant count being close to the 2018 level. Student associations have also voiced concerns over financial difficulties in affording housing for students, which could potentially dissuade young people from pursuing higher education.
