UCAS has reported that 461,860 people have been placed in full-time UK higher education, a decline of 1% compared to the same point last year.
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Theresa May's former chief of staff has described the current university fee system as a "unsustainable Ponzi scheme", which is in need of radical reform.
UCAS has confirmed that 416,310 students have been accepted at UK universities and colleges so far this year.
The government has reinforced its stance on charging interest rates on student loans in England of 6.1% from autumn this year.
New research by charity Teach First has uncovered that young people in the wealthiest areas of England are 18 times more likely to go to university than those in the poorest.
UCAS has reported that 28,700 Scottish applications have been accepted into higher education so far this year, an increase of 1% compared to Scottish results day in 2016.
The Russell Group of universities, which represents 24 of the country's most respected academic institutions, has published 10 demands which they argue Theresa May must meet to ensure higher education is not damaged by Brexit.
The government's own statistics watchdog has warned that estimates of the number of international students remaining in the UK are potentially misleading and should be treated with caution.
Jeremey Corbyn has insisted Labour did not promise to wipe graduates' student debt during the general election campaign, after he was accused of misleading students by a Conservative MP.
Newcastle University has warned students against handing out personal details on fraudulent websites after it was uncovered a fake site had been set up to take payments from prospective students.