Universities could be hit with financial penalties for over-recruiting thousands of students despite the fact that record numbers were still unable to secure a place, figures suggest.

More than 372,500 UK and EU applicants won places at English institutions this autumn, up from 354,600 last year, an increase of almost 18,000, according to Ucas figures published today.

But only 13,000 extra places were made available by the Government for full time undergraduates, meaning universities have accepted applications from 5,000 too many students.

Only UK and EU students applying to English institutions are affected by the cap on places.

The Government previously warned that universities that over-recruit would face penalties.

But a spokeswoman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) today that it was too early to speculate on over-recruitment, saying they had had to wait for statistics in December.

It is not known how much any financial penalties could run to.

Universities have faced unprecedented pressure on places this autumn, as numbers of applications soared to record levels.

The increase has been fuelled by workers returning to education in the recession.

The statistics reveal that a total of 139,520 applicants have not been offered a university place this autumn, up from 114,009, an extra 25,511 applicants who missed out.

Some 477,277 would-be students have been accepted on to degree courses across the UK, up from 451,871 on this time last year - an increase of 25,406 - or 5.6%.

Of these, 47,188 found places through clearing, the annual process of matching applicants to vacant university courses. This is 4,043 more than last year.

Ucas acting chief executive Virginia Isaac said: ''This year has been unprecedented in many respects.

''Significantly increased applications and far more students being accepted at a university or college than ever before.

''In particular we have seen a notable increase - of 10.1% - in acceptances of students aged 25 and over.''

Universities minister David Lammy said: ''It is great to see that so many people have worked hard and secured a place at university. Clearing has been a great success, with early predictions about the lack of places available proving premature, with over 47,000 people finding a place through this service.

''This year, more students than ever before will take advantage of the record number of funded places on offer.

''This growth has been achieved at a time when Government investment in Higher Education has increased by 25% in real terms since 1997.''

(www.eduwo.com, Jainlyn&Charlotte)