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This UK report finds that the introduction of £9,000 tuition fees has not dampened the enthusiasm of the majority of prospective students for physics.
The report produced by YouthSight, specialists in youth and student research, found that prospective students regard physics as "a prestigious, well-respected and fundamental subject."
The data in this report was compared with data from 2012 which showed that students in 2013 were more determined to study physics at university than students in 2012. It also found, however, that prospective students still felt there was a lack of obvious career signposts for physics.
Along with concerns about the availability of careers advice, the report highlights the potential impact of £9,000 tuition fees on diversity. The report identifies changes in 2013's prospective physics intake in terms of gender, ethnicity and social class, where these groups stated that they were more likely to take action to mitigate higher fees by, for example, choosing a more applied/vocational subject.
Dr Frances Saunders, President of the Institute of Physics, has raise the following note of caution - "women, non-white applicants and those from lower socio-economic grades are more likely to be deterred by fear of debt. Physics already faces a very significant diversity challenge, and any factors likely to exacerbate the situation must be a real cause for concern."