UNIVERSITY places are still in high demand in East Lancashire, according to new figures.

Blackburn College has announced applications for its higher education courses are bucking the national trend and have increased ‘significantly’ compared to last year.

However interest in degree programmes at the University of Central Lancashire’s Burnley and Preston campuses stands at 15,529 applications compared with the record figures of 16,025 at the same time last year.

But compared with 2010’s application figures the university’s applications are 12.67 up per cent.

Last year universities saw a surge in applications after the coalition government announced fees would rise up to £9,000 a year from September.

The majority of MPs voted in favour of the rise to make up a shortfall of funding to higher education institutions after it announced its cuts.

The latest figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, UCAS, show overall applications are down by 6.4 per cent compared with the same time last year.

Blackburn College bosses said its rise in applications was down to a number of factors such as its £2,012 student finance package.

Ian Clinton, Principal of Blackburn College, said: “We are thrilled to see that many students are choosing the University Centre for higher education. These are our best ever enrolment figures and illustrate a really positive picture.

“We believe a combination of various factors have had a positive impact on these figures, in particular our innovative £2,012 finance package which, given the current financial climate, will mean all students beginning university life at University Centre Blackburn College next year will not be disadvantaged by the rise in tuition fees and will have fair access to resources that will enable them to be as successful as possible.”

Dr Martin Brown, University of Central Lancashire’s director for Burnley, said: “At this stage we don't yet have the full breakdown for our Burnley Campus but the signs are again looking good with strong demand across the range of our Burnley course portfolio.

“Total applications for University of Central Lancashire are three per cent down on 2011’s record figures but with over five applications for every place we are 12.67 per cent up on 2010, a more comparable year.

“Applications are coming in all the time and at Burnley potential students are being attracted by our vibrant campus with exceptional facilities and courses geared to regional employment needs.

“When we open our doors in September we fully expect to have filled all our 1,100 plus places for the full range of courses on offer which include foundation degrees, first degrees, degree top-ups and masters programmes.”