Coventry University applications up 18% for 2013

Applications for places at Coventry University have seen a dramatic rise compared to the same point in 2012, according to the institution’s latest figures.

Engineering and Computing building - Coventry UniversityIt is the second year since the introduction of the new fee system that the University has bucked the national trend, with undergraduate applications up 18% on 2012 while the higher education sector as a whole is showing an average decline.

According to the latest figures published by UCAS on Thursday, university applications are down by 5.6% throughout the UK.

In response to last year’s changes to the university fee system, Coventry University announced that it would implement a variable fee scale with a view to encouraging applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, rather than charging £9,000 for all courses.

The University also launched an initiative which sees students provided with their core textbooks and materials as part of the tuition fee, adding further value for money to Coventry’s courses.

As well as an increase in undergraduate applications, the University has seen a rise of over 50% in its applications for postgraduate studies.

Vice-chancellor Professor Madeleine Atkins believes the increased interest can be attributed to the University’s ongoing improvements in performance and reputation, as well as its different approach to setting course fees.

Professor Atkins said: “We are still at an early stage in the applications cycle for September 2013 starters, but these are positive signs that Coventry’s ‘Fair Fee Policy’ and much-improved standings in the league tables are setting the University apart from the competition.

“At Coventry we felt that setting variable fees which were based on the actual cost of delivering the course was the only fair answer to the changes to the higher education fee system. Value for money and transparency around costs are crucial to prospective students when choosing a university, and so far the evidence seems to suggest that students and their families are supportive of our different approach.”

The increase in applications follows a strong year for the institution, which saw its best ever student satisfaction ratings in 2012 and a significant boost in the Guardian and Times university league tables.

For more information about courses at Coventry University, visit www.coventry.ac.uk/ug2013.

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]