University Gender Gap Reaches Record High

The gender gap between female and male students attending university is at a record level and "needs addressing", according to the head of the university admissions body.

Women currently outnumber men in almost two-thirds of degree subjects in the UK, and females are now 35% more likely to go to university than their male counterparts, widening the gender gap to a record level.

UCAS, which operates the application process for universities in the UK, says its figures show over 90,000 more women than men in the UK applied for a university course this year.

The number of male applicants went down for the first time since 2012, its figures show.

"I think this is an issue that needs addressing," said UCAS chief executive Mary Curnock Cook.

"If it was the other way round there would be an absolute outcry - if young women were being disadvantaged in education - and I think it needs a whole system effort to find out the reasons and look at some of the solutions that are needed."

At the Royal Veterinary College in London, 75% of students are women. It's trying to recruit more men.

"It would appear that certainly females are more focussed on their future, more interested in what they can do to make sure their future is secure, and are more interested in planning for their future than, perhaps, similarly aged boys," says veterinary professor David Church.

Student Amir Tayob has decided not to go to university. Instead he is opting for a five-year training course with a financial company.

"When you're 17-18, the thought of making your own money is quite enticing but for me that wasn't my whole aim in life," he said.

"I want to be good at something, excel at something, not just be rich."

But Charis Benefo hopes to take the more traditional route and study law at university.

"Being working class the opportunities are not really there," said Charis.

"There's not much money so the fact that I can work hard, get a degree, hopefully get a really good job and put my mum in a place where we don't have to suffer so much any more.

"There are loads of opportunities opening up for women. We have a female Prime Minister. There's the example of Michelle Obama.

"The world is more modern, there are more opportunities. Maybe that's why women feel they can go to university now."

But after women graduate, there is still a pay gap to close.

According to women's rights charity, the Fawcett Society, the pay gap for female graduates when they enter the workforce is £3,000, growing to 23% after 10 years in the labour market.

"They're going into lower paid professions," said chief executive Sam Smethers.

"They're not seeing the transparency in the workplace.

"They can't negotiate themselves a better pay deal if they don't know what their colleagues are earning and ... we haven't got flexibility in the workplace, so if women need to take time out for caring it's impacting on them."

Ms Smethers added: "They're taking the hit and as a result their pay doesn't recover."