University applications for 2012 - the first year of higher tuition fees - are running at 9 per cent below last year's level, according to figures released last month.

During non curriculum time Year 13 spend the first few weeks of the academic year completing their University applications before starting a further term of curriculum enrichment activities.

University applications increased by nearly 8,000, according to year on year figures released by Ucas.

For example during his University application he used "Alex van Buren".

University applications to study this autumn close on 15 January and Ucas is set to release final figures on 30 January.

The headline says "University applications drop as tuition fees soar"

Children becoming 'addicted' to computers University applications 'drop by 23,000' after fees hike College 'sacked head and wife for being white Christians' 'I'm a graduate, get me out of here!

University applications to study medicine for the academic year starting in 2008 declined, and both top-up fees and the jobs crisis MTAS created have been implicated in this.

University applications for 2011 have risen ahead of the upcoming hike in tuition fees.

- University applications from UK-born students have fallen 15%, the latest Ucas figures show.