Another trend is that people are making their decisions about taking an OU course later in the year. In a world where an Internet bookstore delivers a book less than 24 hours after we ordered it we expect to be able to register close to the start date of a course. First, this is a dynamic situation. We are finding, as we did last year, that the autumn is a time when many potential students come forward. Enquiries and registrations are currently brisk.
Some trends are encouraging.
Comparing similar dates we have had 45,000 more undergraduate enquiries this year than last. Certain courses are proving particularly attractive. T171 You, Your Computer and the Net looks as if it could attract over 10,000 students unless we cap it. Already new student reservations for this course are 5,000 higher than for T102 . The major concern is that the total of registrations from continuing students is running about two weeks behind the pattern last year.