Some traditional academic subjects showed drops in applicants

The latest figures on UK university applications show a fall in the number of people wanting to study subjects such as classics, history and music.

Big rises were seen in the numbers opting for nursing, social work, pharmacology and maths.

Overall, there was a 3.4% fall in numbers applying for university.

The figures were released by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

Subjects which show a fall in applications include history (44,267 applications, -7.8%), music (19,367 applications, -11%), and English studies (51,660 applications, - 4.5%).

Those showing increases include nursing (51,677 applications, +15.4%), social work (40,875, +7.4%) and maths (30,707 applications +11.5%).

'Best opportunity'

Minister Bill Rammell said: "What you might describe as subjects which students see as being really non-vocational, like fine art, philosophy, classical studies, have seen big reductions.

"An initial reading of figures suggests to me that there is some evidence that students are choosing subjects they think are more vocationally beneficial.

"If that's what they are doing I don't see that as necessarily being a bad thing," he said.

Asked if there was any merit in students' taking courses in history and philosophy, Mr Rammell said: "Of course there is and if people want to do that I am not going to stop them.

"But if students are making a calculation about which degree is going to get them the best job and the best opportunity in life, I see that as being no bad thing."

'Divide'

Mr Rammell's comments provoked criticism from some academics. Sean Lang, a teacher and honorary secretary of the Historical Association, said the remarks were "very short-sighted".

"It shows a very limited understanding of the very wide application of academic subjects.

"People are always saying we need to get over the academic-vocational divide. What he is doing is entrenching it rather than bridging it."

Philosophy was among the many subjects showing a fall in applications in a year where the overall trend is down.

Employers value the capacity for clear critical analysis gained from studying philosophy Timothy Williamson, Oxford University

There have been 8,293 applications, a fall of 3.9% on last year.

Timothy Williamson, Wykeham Professor of Logic at Oxford University, said: "Philosophy teaches you how to detect bad arguments, so it's no surprise when politicians aren't keen for it to be studied.

"Employers value the capacity for clear critical analysis gained from studying philosophy."

Mixed picture

Overall, the picture is not a clear one of vocational subjects increasing at the expense of traditional ones. There are many exceptions.

For example, design studies has shown a fall in popularity. There were 33,554 applications, down 10.2% on the same time last year.

Also, electronic and electrical engineering (16,664 applications) was down by 18.6%.

The most popular subject is law, which was also down (80,929 applications, -7.4%).