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Drop in EU applicants to UK universities - UCAS
book and stethoscope
Applicants from the EU fell to 6,240 (620 fewer than last year), marking the end of an upward trend seen in recent years.
Figures published on applications for early October deadline
 
There has been a nine per cent drop in the number of EU students applying for UK university courses with an early October deadline. This is according to new figures released by UCAS, the central organisation for processing applications.

The annual deadline for medicine, dentistry and veterinary degrees, as well as all courses at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, is 15 October. Data published this week shows there were a total of 57,190 applicants - a one per cent rise on last year.

However, applicants from the EU fell to 6,240 (620 fewer than last year), marking the end of an upward trend seen in recent years. Meanwhile, the number of applicants from England rose by three per cent.

Furthermore, the number of EU students applying for medicine degrees fell by 16 per cent. Overall, medicine applications fell by four per cent, continuing the annual decline that has been observed since 2014.

However, as only 10 per cent of eventual applicants typically apply by this early stage, the full picture will only become clear after the main deadline in January.

UCAS chief executive Mary Curnock Cook said: "We will be watching the numbers of EU applications in the run up to the January deadline, especially now that the Government has confirmed arrangements for continuing access to student loans for 2017 courses."

Around half of the veterinary surgeons who register to practice in the UK each year are from overseas - primarily the EU. In the wake of Brexit, there has been considerable uncertainty about the future working rights of EU veterinary surgeons and nurses currently working in the UK. A recent letter to the Prime Minister, signed by the RCVS and BVA presidents, highlighted the impact this is already having on the profession, due to the perception that the UK is no longer welcoming to EU professionals.

The main deadline for university applications is 14 January, 2016 and figures from UCAS will be published on 2 February.

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.