BBC News Online: Education

More students opt for 'gap year'

Among students offered places for this autumn, there has been a 7% increase in those who will defer starting their courses for a year, according to figures from the university admissions authority.

And the head of the admissions service, Tony Higgins, predicted that taking a gap year was a trend that was likely to continue.

"The statistics show that more people are now taking a year out, and many of them use that time to travel, or to earn some money to help pay their way through college," he said.

"If a year out is planned and structured, many higher education institutions see it as a positive benefit - but we advise students to check first with their chosen university or college."

Probably this year's most high profile gap year student is Prince William, who among other things is planning to travel around Australia.

The admissions service has also released the latest running totals for places accepted in universities - with the current figure of 317,000 standing 1.1% on the same point last year.

But the current total of applicants so far is 0.5% below this point in last year's admissions cycle - with last year's figure a decrease on the year before.