Application figures to universities in Britain have reached record levels, according to statistics released on Monday, as students scramble to begin their studies ahead of a steep increase in tuition set to take effect at universities in England in 2012. The data from the University & Colleges Admissions Service, through which applications to most higher-education institutions in Britain are processed, show that as of January 24, more than 580,000 prospective students had applied to begin their studies this fall, a 5.1-percent increase over the same period last year. “At least 180,000 applicants are likely to be disappointed, because there are only just over 400,000 places available for undergraduate study each year,” The Guardian reports. In a statement, Nicola Dandridge, the chief executive of Universities UK, which represents the vice chancellors of all British universities, warned that “speculation and panic benefits no one; there is still a good chance of securing a place at university.”