Going to University? You should consider apprenticeships instead of a degree spot.

More than 200,000 candidates might miss out on university places this year as applications hit a record high.

With many university tuition fees looking to treble to up to £9,000 in 2012, this is the last chance most students have to apply and pay normal annual fees, before top education will be restricted to the rich elite.

Applications are already up 1.4 per cent on this time last year and if the current demand is maintained, more than 700,000 students will submit requests for 479,000 places, meaning three in ten will miss out on a degree place.

Among applicants there are also some of the students who were hopeful of making it on to a course in 2010. In fact 27 per cent of them were left disappointed and according to student leaders, the government’s failure to act on last year’s figures by adding more places was unacceptable.

Universities Minister David Willets said students should start to consider apprenticeships instead of fighting for a degree spot.

Meanwhile there are thousands of ambitious young people who want to know how universities will spend the extra income while others are anxious about job prospects after graduating.