The picture varies across the UK

Figures from the admissions service, Ucas, confirm the trend seen at the start of the year, with an overall increase in applicants of more than 8%. There were 486,915 applicants for full-time higher education courses by the end of June.

At the same point last year there were 450,147 applicants.

From September 2006, universities in England will be able to charge students "top-up fees" up to a maximum of �3,000 a year.

At the moment, tuition fees are �1,250 a year.

People who begin their studies in September 2005 will pay the lower rate for the duration of their course.

The Ucas figures show that there is no sign of the gender gap closing. 55% of the applicants are women, who have dominated the recent expansion of higher education.

There was a rise of 7.8% in applicants from overseas to 71,452. Of those 26,827 were in other EU states (up 15%) and 44,625 from elsewhere (up 3.9%).

Differences within UK

The statistics cover the 325 institutions belonging to Ucas, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

People in England applying to universities in Scotland rose 16.8% to 29,375 and to those in Wales by 12% to 43,096.

Some have interpreted this as a further sign of a move to countries which were not planning top-up fees - though no-one already embarked on a course would pay them anyway.

Adding further complexity to the system, it was announced on 20 July that university tuition fees for students from outside Scotland are to rise from 2006.

The Scottish Executive has said the general fee level for courses in Scotland will be �1,700 per year, a rise of �500. A higher rate of �2,700 has been set for medical school places.

Wales has decided to charge �3,000 a year to students from outside Wales from 2007.

Applications to defer entry by a year - so students would start courses in 2006 but not pay top-up fees - were up by 10%.

Public awareness

But Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell denied the rises were due to the higher fees of �3,000 a year almost all universities in England will be charging.

He said: "There is no evidence that this is because of the change in financial arrangements coming in 2006.

"But it is still vital that people understand the new system which is why we are putting so much in to the public awareness campaign that we announced earlier this week.

"I want to reassure people that from 2006 higher education will be free before and during study and fair and affordable at the time of repayment."

Despite denying there is a problem ministers are to spend �3.5m on publicity explaining the new system.

Like the Ucas figures, Mr Rammell's remarks refer to full-time courses.

Part-time students will still have to pay while studying, though he has said the government is reviewing this.