The growing interest in Artificial Intelligence as a career has led to a surge in the popularity of computing programmes among UK high-school pass-outs. According to the latest UCAS statistics, a record number of school leavers in the country have applied to computing programmes at university in 2023. A whopping increase of 9.5% has been recorded since last year, making computing the 7th most popular course.

The overall statistics of applications for different courses are as follows:

• Business and management: 184,000 applications
• Social sciences: 178,680 applications
• Medicine: 156,460 applications
• Design, creative, and performing arts: 126,310 applications
• Biological and sports sciences: 105,490 applications
• Engineering and technology: 96,180 applications
• Computing: 94,870 applications

Besides the increase in the applications for computing courses, a notable fact is that it remains a male-dominated area. Only 18% of all UK applications by 18-year-olds are made by females, even as the number is 1% higher than in 2022.

The whopping increase in the application number is attributed to the widespread popularity of artificial intelligence and gaming, with new advances such as ChatGPT coming to the market. AI is poised to change the world, from reshaping marketing and communication to transforming how cancer is diagnosed, and how countries tackle climate change.

Applying for computing courses will make young students future-ready to fulfill the demand of the industry. UCAS encourages learners from every background to join the tech profession for ethics and diversity in the industry.

Another reason for the inclination toward these courses is the changes in the job market, economic trends, and the rising cost of living in the UK.

The unprecedented demand for undergraduate programmes in the country is another trend worth mentioning. In 2023, UK higher education peaked, with the second-highest number of 18-year-olds applying for university programmes. Estimates predict an upward trajectory in the upcoming years, with the number of higher education applicants likely to cross a million in a single year in 2030.