Figures show applications to study subjects such as veterinary science, dentistry, engineering and the sciences have all increased so far this year.
Courses allied to medicine, such as nursing, midwifery, pathology and radiography, soared by almost a fifth in the four months leading up to Christmas – quicker than any other subject area.
At the same time, applications to study linguistics and the classics are down by five per cent, while subjects such as history, philosophy and theology dropped by two per cent.
The disclosure comes amid concerns that the average student starting university this year will graduate with debts of around ?25,000, rising to almost ?50,000 in parts of London.
It suggests more students are opting for courses that lead directly to stable employment.
Johnny Rich, editor of the university guide Push.co.uk, said: “The increase in higher education applications over the last few years has been based on what students want to study. Now it is based on what they think they may earn money from.”
As reported in The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday, data shows record numbers of people are applying for university this year to beat a rise in tuition fees in 2012.
Data published by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) showed that 344,064 candidates completed early applications by late December.
It represents a rise of 2.5 per cent compared with the same period 12 months earlier and could leave as many as quarter of a million students without courses if the trend continues into the summer.
Further figures from Ucas show some subject areas are increasing quicker than others.
Applications to study subjects linked to medicine are up by 18.5 per cent, while veterinary science, agriculture and related courses increased by almost 12 per cent.
Demand for education courses is up by more than nine per cent, while degrees in communication, which covers public relations, publishing and TV and radio production, has risen by seven per cent. Physical sciences are up by six per cent and engineering applications increased by four per cent.
But Mr Rich said: “Students taking these sorts of courses are not necessarily correct that they will lead directly to a job. For example, there are 8,500 people studying forensic science in the UK but there are only 9,000 jobs in the industry, and many of those people will have degrees in other subjects such as biology and chemistry.”
