Wales has the lowest proportion of 18-year-olds applying to university in the UK this year, with only 33.8% of young people from Wales applying, compared to higher rates in Northern Ireland (50%), England (42%), and Scotland (33.9%). This marks the largest gap between Wales and the rest of the UK in 15 years. The decline is attributed to increased tuition fees and rising concerns about student debt and job prospects. Average student debt in Wales now stands at £37,360, which is discouraging students, especially from deprived areas, from pursuing higher education.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education/huge-debt-costs-job-prospect-29729984
