Wales has the lowest proportion of 18-year-olds in the UK applying to go to university this year. The gap between applications in this age group from Wales and the rest of the UK is now at a 15-year low.

The drop, which coincides with the Welsh Government raising tuition fees, was described as “alarming” as teenagers wait for their A level results this week. Latest data from university admissions service UCAS shows 33.8% of 18 year-olds from Wales applied to university this year, compared to 50% in Northern Ireland, 42% in England and 33.9% in Scotland.

Some young people said they were put off applying because of the cost of university and doubts over job prospects - they were also worried about future interest on student loans and whether having a degree was worth the price. Latest figures show average student debt across Wales is now £37,360. Join our WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone

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As well as an overall fall in 18-year-olds from Wales applying there’s been a decrease in the proportion of those from deprived areas applying to go to university. 18-year-olds from the most deprived areas in Wales are now the least likely to apply.

NUS Wales President Deio Owen said: “Students in Wales are walking away from university with an average of £37,360 in debt according to Student Loan Company figures. I’s hardly surprising that 18-year-olds from less affluent backgrounds are being squeezed out of higher education.

“Student debt discourages people from working class backgrounds from going to university, no matter how much they may thrive there or how much they want to go. We cannot pretend that higher education is accessible to everyone in Wales when students are incurring this level of debt. We’re in desperate need of a review into higher education funding so students can fully participate in their studies without fear of lifelong debt

Amanda Wilkinson, director of Universities Wales, said: “We now have the lowest proportion of 18-year-olds applying for university in the UK, with the gap between Wales and the UK wider than at any point in modern history. This drop has long term implications for Wales. The industries that will drive our economic growth in the decades to come rely heavily on graduates. But it’s not just our economy and public services but also for the people who would benefit from the transformative experience of higher education.”

Cai Carter is one 18 year-old not going to university this year. Instead, he will be working full time as NUS president at Gower College and says he is not 100% sure he will go to university later. “I did not want to go straight to university and after this year there’s a chance I still might not. 18-year-olds will have individual reasons for not applying but there are so many alternatives to university and on the back of that there’s a financial crisis,” he said.

“The cost-of-living and so many people going to university in general means a degree does not mean as much as it used to. You now need at least an MA as well to stand out and word spreads online about people with degrees unable to find jobs.”

Cai said he nearly dropped out of A levels and after applying to university in his second year at Gower College opted to defer. He then applied for and got the paid full-time job for this year as NUS president at the college and says he’ll also spend time thinking about what to do next. “I am not so worried about money personally, because people say you don’t really notice paying back the student loan. But money is an issue.”

Kamal Shah, 20, from Newport, dropped out of Newport High after doing well in his AS biology, chemistry and IT three years ago. But now he is happy that he’s got a place to study for a biology degree at Bath University in September. Kamal, who wants to be a science teacher when he graduates, went back to do a science access course at Coleg Gwent and already has his results, which are equivalent to two As and a B.

He believes not everyone is ready at 18 for the stress and worry of university and making big life and money borrowing decisions. Kamal, who said he suffered with his mental health during A levels, said many teenagers were caught between needing to study and wanting to socialise and learn about life.

He warned teenagers to think carefully: “I think A levels are way too stressful. There are advantages and disadvantages to going to university at 18. At 18 you are stressed by weighing up studying and normal life with friends. But if you are not going to university at least get a good job - apprenticeships are one of the best things you can do. I wanted to go to university because I hate the idea of a bad job. At least if you don’t go look at getting a profession or apprenticeship.”

The number of 18-year-old university applicants from Wales was 20,960 this year. This is lower than any point since 2008 (when there were 20,580 applicants., said Universities Wales, which represents institutions here.

The Welsh Government said it was looking into how to increase university applications from 18-year-olds. A spokesperson said: “This issue is broader than higher education, and we are analysing participation rates and will draw upon external expertise and evidence in our policy response. The Cabinet Secretary for Education will provide an update on this in the Autumn.”

But there is better news for universities in Wales in terms of applications overall. The UCAS figures also show Welsh universities seeing the biggest increase in applications in the UK at 3.05% . This includes being the only part of the UK to see an increase in higher paying and vital undergraduate international students.