UNITE, the student accommodation group, said demand remains strong, despite a fall in university applications and acceptances due to increased tuition fees.

The business, which operates 10 halls of residence in Liverpool providing 3,335 rooms, said the latest statistics from UCAS showed a 6% decline in applications from full-time UK undergraduates as well as a 5% decline in acceptances by universities.

However, it said the 27,000 fall in acceptances was slightly less than the 30,000 Unite had projected.

It said the fall is mainly due to cautious ‘offer making’ behaviour by universities and anticipates that this trend will be reversed in 2013.

It said it is well placed due to its concentration on strong university cities and also anticipates more activity in the future from the high volume of international students that stay in its accommodation, an area of the market that is expected to double by 2025.

Managing director Richard Smith said today: “We recognise that some students and their parents are now having to make a more significant economic investment in higher education and we want to play our part in ensuring that they get the best out of this opportunity.

“We are proud of the achievements we have made this year, particularly in the services we provide our customers.”