The number of students accepted on to UK degree courses has risen this year, Ucas figures show.

A total of 425,680 applicants (of all ages and domiciles) have gained a place at university or college – up 3% on the same point last year, according to data published by the university admissions service.

Ucas said 82% of UK 18-year-old applicants awaiting a decision on results day secured their first choice – which was up from 79% last year and 74% in 2019.

For 18-year-olds in the UK, 243,650 applicants have been accepted – up 6% on last year.

The number of 18-year-olds from the most disadvantaged backgrounds in the UK to gain places on courses has reached a record high, Ucas said.

Overall, 27,600 of UK 18-year-olds from the most disadvantaged backgrounds (POLAR4 Quintile 1) have accepted a degree place, up 7% on 25,800 last year and on the previous record of 26,650 in 2021.

The number of international students who have been accepted on to courses stands at 51,170, down slightly on 51,210 last year.

Accepted applicants from China (10,950) are down 6% compared with last year.

But Ucas data showed that regional disparities remain in university access.

Overall, 25.3% of 18-year-olds from the North East secured a university place on results day, compared with 42.5% of 18-year-olds from London.

This gap is now 17.2 percentage points, which is greater than the 15.3 percentage points in 2023 and 10.5 percentage points in 2019.

Jo Saxton, chief executive of Ucas, said she was concerned about the regional differences across the UK.

She told the PA news agency: “I’m really keen to get under the bonnet of why we’re seeing such a surge in London and we’re not seeing that surge elsewhere.”

Dr Saxton said: “I do wonder whether the question of transport links and concerns about cost of living have anything to do with it. In London, you don’t necessarily have to travel very far to be able to go to a university.”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said she is committed to closing the “big gaps” in university access.

She told Sky News: “I think, sadly, whatever the headline figure in terms of university applications, we do still see, sadly, very big differences between different parts of the country.

“So, for example, you’re far more likely to apply to university from London and the South East than you are from the North East, where I’m from. So it’s not kind of a flat figure across the country.

“There are big gaps, big differences, and actually they’ve been growing in recent years.”