Applications to study AI at UK universities have risen by 15% this year, while a number of other Computing degree subjects are showing decreases, new UCAS data shows.
Applications for AI degrees rose by 15% among UK women and 12% among men, suggesting student behaviour mirroring emerging skills trends in the job market.
The gender gap for 18-year-olds has narrowed fractionally for AI, as with most other computing subjects. Men outnumber women by ‘just’ 3.7 to one in AI applications.
AI degrees now account for 5% of all full time undergraduate Computing applications.
Larger courses like Computer Science, Software Engineering, and Computer Games and Animation, still make up the majority of demand. These saw declines in 2025, meaning applications to computing degrees decreased by 10% overall.
Computing remains the seventh most popular subject for UK 18-year-olds; applications for Computing degrees have been growing for the previous five years.
Context: Growing AI in education and skills is key to the government’s plan
This year Nobel prizes for Physics and Chemistry went to computer scientists working in AI – Geoffrey Hinton and Demis Hassabis.
The AI Opportunities Action Plan, commissioned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) says that ‘increasing [universities’] teaching and recruitment capacity would help train the tens of thousands of AI professionals needed by 2030.’
But the plan will also rely on a blend of professional development, apprenticeships and other routes to help people develop the AI and other critical digital skills; all of which BCS supports.
BCS said it was likely the numbers of applicants accepted onto computing courses in August would remain similar to last year but would continue to monitor and keep the situation under review.
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Commenting on the data for PA News, Julia Adamson MBE, Managing Director for Education at BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT said: “Young people – and a rising percentage of young women – know studying AI gives them the power to change the world. The results reflect the changing digital economy. AI and information systems are emerging fields, particularly for female applicants, which is a positive step towards a more diverse tech workforce.
“The government’s strategy to make the UK a global AI leader relies largely on growing the pipeline of university graduates in a range of related subjects, along with digital apprenticeships and other professional development courses.
“Specialised AI degrees are starting to grow steeply, but these are still small numbers, compared to Computing courses overall.
“It’s also true that people with degrees other than Computing will look to enter AI through the postgraduate conversion route (such as the Google DeepMind Research Ready programme).
