A RECORD number of people have tried to get places at Huddersfield University.
It has seen a bigger increase in the number of student applications than any other Yorkshire university.
And the latest national application figures show that Huddersfield has the 13th fastest growth rate in the country.
So far, 3,177 more students have applied to Huddersfield than in the same period last year.
Current applications total 15,448.
This year there are 17,500 students at the university.
Public relations head Phil Williams said: "It is excellent news for the university. It is a recognition of the high standards achieved by our students and staff."
He said applications had increased in subjects across the board and 41 more lecturers were being recruited to cope with the predicted demand.
The new posts will be in both the university's traditionally-successful subjects and some new ones.
The traditional strong subjects to get new staff include music and drama, teacher-training and health studies.
Among the staff recruited will be principal lecturers in public health and in school age children.
A lecturer in police studies will join the team producing the university's acclaimed work in criminology.
The newer topics to get lecturers will include air transport and logistics management, sports biology, pharmacy and computer games design.
The new growth figures and the recruitment drive follow a glowing report received on the university from Government watchdog the Quality Assurance Agency.
Huddersfield University was reviewed in five academic subjects - psychology, music, business studies, accountancy and chemistry.
Mr Williams said:
"We were praised for our good practice in student support, in particular our personal tutor arrangements and our focus on the needs of student needs.
"Overall, it was the highest possible outcome that could be given to any university."
