Education spending in the UK peaked in 2010 at £15.8B ($19.8B) and since then, it has declined by threefold to £4.6B ($5.7B) in 2022. Paradoxically, despite an increase in student enrollment, overall government spending on higher education fell by more than 40%. This financial constraint is further highlighted by a 16% decrease in funding per domestic student since 2012, coupled with rising demands for financial aid and additional funding.  This downward trend can be attributed to austerity measures that began after the 2008 financial crisis, which resulted in cuts across public spending, including education. The financial landscape for universities shifted as a consequence, with capped tuition fees and reduced government grants straining their budgets and leading to deficits. The University College Admissions Service's stringent policy allows students to submit only five applications, heightening competitiveness. Additionally, a heavy reliance on international student fees created vulnerability when changes in immigration policies caused a decline in applications.