More students than ever at Sussex
More students than ever are studying at Sussex: as the new academic year gets under way, the total student population exceeds 13,000 for the first time in the University’s history.
Student numbers at Sussex are increasing in line with the University’s strategic plan: the total number of students is 20% larger than four years ago and is forecast to reach 15,000 by 2015.
The increase reflects the fact that the intake of students– from the UK/EU and overseas - each year to undergraduate courses has been growing in line with University plans, leading to a larger overall student population.
This year Sussex is admitting around 500 new undergraduate students from overseas.
In addition, there are just under 2,600 new students from the UK and the rest of the EU. This is the same number as the cap set for Sussex in 2011, when the UK/EU intake for each university was strictly limited by the government.
For 2012 admissions, government number controls are still in place for those students achieving less than AAB at A level – but the government allowed universities to admit unlimited numbers of high-achieving students earning AAB+ at A level.
The proportion of the Sussex intake in 2012 who achieved AAB+ is 45%, which is the same as last year. This was itself a significant increase on previous years, as the quality of students coming to Sussex has gone up.
However, figures released this month by UCAS show that AAB+ numbers nationally in 2012 are 14,000 fewer than in 2011 (a decline of about 15%).
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning), Professor Clare Mackie, says: “Maintaining our AAB+ numbers at Sussex at the same proportion as last year is a tremendous achievement when all universities have been chasing this smaller pool of high-quality students.”
