UNIVERSITY applications from Gwent students to start studying in 2012 have fallen since last year – but increases were still seen in three of the local authority areas.

There were 3,729 applications across Gwent by the deadline for applications on January 15, down from 3,762 – or 0.88 per cent – on the number that applied in 2011.

But applications rose in Monmouthshire, Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent.

Some 404 students in Blaenau Gwent applied to a university, up from 377 the previous year. In Torfaen, there we 581 applications, compared to 560 in 2011, and 757 from Monmouthshire students compared to 735.

Applications from Caerphilly fell from 1,057 to 973 and in Newport from 1,033 to 1,014.

The three rises come despite the adverse publicity over the rise in tuition fees for students starting courses this autumn – although Welsh students will not have to pay the increases faced by their English counterparts.

NUS Wales president Luke Young, who is originally from Blaina, said he wasn’t surprised by the rises in Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen, as universities have reached out to students from poorer areas.

The number of Welsh students applying to university fell by 1.9 per cent, compared to a 9.9 per cent drop among English students.

The University of Wales, Newport, said it was 1.99 per cent down on applications for 2012, from 4,271 to 4,186.

However that was still up – by 16.96 per cent – on 2010’s figure of 3,579.