KU applications drop for 2016

Kingston University has seen three per cent fewer student applications for the 2016 start compared to last year.

The worst hit faculty is Business and Law, with a drop of over 20 per cent in applicants.

However, the faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture has seen a 10 per cent increase overall from submissions in October to January.

Education liaison coordinator Mark Alger partially attributed the dramatic drop in business and law applications to a cut in undergraduate courses in the faculty.

“The programmes that do remain (only six, I believe) follow a new format with a greater emphasis on work/industry placement experience,” said Alger.

The UK has seen a general decline showing similar figures in higher education applications for 2016 so far, and a Kingston university spokesperson pointed out that “the number of applications any university receives is not an indicator of final enrolments”.

“Kingston University always receives far more applications than the number of places available on our courses,” the spokesperson said.

But application drops even in these numbers could result in finance issues within the university. A three per cent drop could cost the university millions of pounds in fees.

Since fees reached £9,000 in 2012, more students want to know where their money is going.

Universities have been investing in improvements in teaching, support and facilities over the years. Improvements to Kingston University can been seen with the birth of the new KUSU offices and prayer rooms, renovations to Clattern Lecture theatre, new labs and technologies across campuses.

The restructuring of the Space Bar and catering services has also been a result of increased spending within the university.

Plans to demolish the temporary building of Town House to build a £55 million landmark are set to get underway in spring; the drop in applications could potentially hold off other improvements within the university.

Last year Kingston ran a Telephone Campaign to raise funds to support postgraduate scholarships, hardship funds, research funds, and care leaver bursaries.

The more applications that the university receives the higher number of potential students and therefore potential money for the university.