Record numbers apply to Cambridge

Cambridge has seen a decline in theology applications

Cambridge University has had a record number of applications this year.

More than 15,000 people have applied to study at the university, an increase of 12% on the past four years which had a yearly average of 13,500 applications.

Computer science and philosophy have seen the biggest increase in popularity while theology has seen a decline.

Earlier this year the university removed the rule that every applicant must have a language at GCSE level and made changes to its bursary scheme.

Director of admissions for the Cambridge colleges, Dr Geoff Parks said: "We're very pleased with the increase.

"It's our hope that the recent changes we've made to the Cambridge application process and entrance requirements combined with our continued outreach and widening participation efforts and changes to our bursary scheme may have removed some of the perceived barriers to bright students who, for whatever reason, wouldn't previously have considered applying to Cambridge."