In the recent article about the plummeting interest in UK architecture schools (News February 1), the Bartlett was mentioned as one of the most affected schools, with a 14.5% drop of applications.

This figure, though obtained from the UCL Press Office, is inaccurate and does not reflect the current situation. While UK applications did fall, numbers of European and overseas students have increased and stabilised the total applications at 1,537 for 90 places.

This implies a slight drop of around 6% when compared with the exceptionally high figures of the year before. The higher number of applications from international students, however, has not affected the Bartlett’s ratio of UK/overseas students who are accepted onto programmes here.

It is important to consider that the drop in UK applications was predicted and is easily explained as the result of the high fees in architectural education and cost of living in London. The increase in student applications from abroad demonstrates a reverse trend, with UK universities being, arguably, more attractive than ever before.

What confirms this healthy development is the fact that European students seem not to be shying away as expected — on the contrary, more and more are trying to come here. I suggest that a further survey be conducted to confirm this trend with other UK schools.

Marcos Cruz
Director, The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL

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