90,000 more women than men apply for university places

Two per cent rise in total applications

Figures show that 41 per cent of all 18-year-old women in England have applied to university (Getty)

University applications for this autumn are up by two per cent - with the rise almost entirely fuelled by an increase in the number of women seeking places.

Figures show that 90,000 more women than men have put in for places - meaning a record number of women have applied and the gap between the sexes is at a record high.

A breakdown of the figures released by UCAS, the university admissions services - reveals the highest rise is in applicants from the EU, up seven per cent, followed by a three per cent increase in would-be international students. The rise for home-grown students is only one per cent - a slowing down of the increase that have been witnessed in the past two years. Overall, the number of applications is 592,000.

The figures show that 41 per cent of all 18-year-old women in England have applied to university - up 1.1 percentage points on last year - compared with just 30.2 per cent of men, which is almost exactly the same as last year’s figures.

Amongst disadvantaged students, women are 57 per cent more likely to apply than men - compared with 24 per cent in more affluent areas. Overall, the figures show students from disadvantaged areas across the UK are more likely to apply than ever before.

Ministers are planning to increase the number of places on offer by lifting the cap on university recruitment figures.