Latest figures from UCAS show that the number of applicants applying for full-time undergraduate courses at the University of Chichester has risen by 27.6% compared with the national average of 22.9%.

Applications to the University have risen from 5,867 in the same period last year to 7,489. This continues the trend of recent years where the university has recorded above national average application figures (last year applications were up 17.2 % compared with the national average of 7.8%). As of 22 January 2010 there were 570,556 applicants in the UK, a rise of 106,389 or 22.9% over 2009.

The most popular courses this year which have seen a significant increase in applications for the September 2010 intake are Psychology, Drama, Dance, Social Work and Sports Coaching and Physical Education.

Professor Clive Behagg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Chichester, said: "It is very encouraging to see that the University is continuing to increase its applications year on year. It is clear from the national picture that applications across the sector have risen, and we could conclude that the current economic situation is causing people to apply to higher education as a way of re-training to ready themselves for the job market once the economy picks up. For instance, Social Work applications to the University have risen by 50% and Sports Coaching and PE by 105%. However as we are one of only a very few universities to be allocated extra student places this year, we are confident we will be able to recruit extra local applicants.”