FEWER people from the North East are applying to study for a university degree, according to newly-released figures.

The North East has seen the second biggest drop in the number of applications in the whole of the UK, according to data published yesterday by the university admissions service, Ucas.

North East MPs have expressed their concerns over the drop, citing young people’s uncertainty over the trebling of tuition fees this year as the main factor.

In 2011, the total number of applications from students in our region stood at 19,026. The latest figure for students from the North East applying to go on to Higher Education this autumn is 16,887 – a decrease of 11.2%.

Nationally, the applications from home and abroad are down by 43,473 – a drop of 7.4%. Applications from UK students fell by 8.7%.

Four out of the region’s five universities saw a drop in their applications, with Durham being the only one to buck the trend with a rise of more than 5%.

Professor Anthony Forster, deputy vice-chancellor, Durham University, said: “Durham is a top three UK university and we are delighted to remain an extremely popular choice with applicants because of our academic success, the first-class student experience offered by our colleges and the opportunities available through extra-curricular activities such as sport and community outreach.”

Teesside and Sunderland universities saw applications plunge by 12.5% and 15.3% respectively.

A spokesperson for Sunderland University said: “Our application figures, like the vast majority of universities across the UK, are down this year.

“For us, that was always going to be the case given the extraordinarily high number of applications we received last year, which were 33% up on the previous year.