Graphic: University applications fall as demand from school leavers remains steady The number of UK university applications is down nearly nine per cent compared to last year, but in England the percentage of 18-year-olds applying to university has fallen by only one percentage point. The disparity is partly due to a decrease in the number of 18-year-olds in the general population. Applications from 18-year-olds make up nearly half of all applications to university (259,000 out of 583,546 total applications), and are an important measure of demand for higher education as they have generally not applied to university before. The proportion of wealthy students applying to university has also fallen more dramatically than application rates from 18-year-olds in less well off areas.