APPLICATIONS to become students at Huddersfield University are on the rise.
A near-4% increase on this time last year is above the national average.
It should prevent a repeat of the situation this year, when staff had to be made redundant because recruitment targets were not met.
University chiefs said they were encouraged by the new figures, but remain cautiously optimistic - as applications need to be converted to actual enrolments.
University spokesman Phil Williams said: "We are certainly encouraged by the rise in applications, but
we will have to see whether they translate into actual enrolments this autumn."
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service said that applications from under- 21s in England rose by 1.5% and in Wales by 1.1%.
When the figures for mature students and applicants from overseas are included the percentage increase for the UK as a whole is 3.6% over last year.
Areas attracting increased student interest at Huddersfield include teacher training and youth work, design technology, engineering, arts subjects and human and health sciences, such as nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, social work and social sciences.
The university has also seen an increase in the numbers applying from overseas.
These are 2.13% up on last year, with particular increases in education, applied sciences and engineering.
International students are particularly important for UK universities because they pay full fees.
