– Jamie Waller contributed to this report
The University of Lincoln has received the highest number of applications to study there in its history.
Almost 15,000 students have applied to study for the academic year starting in September 2013, an increase of 25% on last year. Nationally, applications to Higher Education institutions have increased by 3.5%.
The 15,000 students are competing for around 3,000 places.
Elle Sample, the Director of Communications at the University of Lincoln, said: “Lincoln has bucked the trend. With an increase in applications seven times the national average, these figures are a testament to our standing as one of the country’s most exciting and innovative universities.
“The University of Lincoln has achieved a meteoric ascent of the league tables due to our continuing investment into the student experience, reflected in our high levels of student satisfaction.
“We boast a wonderful campus in a beautiful safe, historic city and we will be delighted to welcome the next cohort of high achievers to our academic community in September.”
Applications saw the highest increase in Engineering, Law, Nursing, Computer Science, History and Psychology.
The interest in Engineering is particularly important for Lincoln following the opening of the £7m specialist building in January 2012 – the first purpose-built school for the subject to be completed in more than 20 years in the UK.
In 2012, the University of Lincoln managed to avoid the national downturn as higher tuition fees were introduced; applications rose by 0.5% that year, despite a national decrease of 9%.