The number of foreign students applying to start university in Britain next year has increased by 17 per cent.

Ucas, the admissions service, warned that an overall rise of 11.6 per cent in early applications means prospective students will face “strong competition” for places.

Student leaders and opposition parties called on the Government to expand the number of places available next year to avoid a repeat of this year’s shortage where tens of thousands of good candidates missed out.

The Times has revealed that three quarters of the extra places promised by Gordon Brown for 2010 have already been spoken for, leaving only 2,000 remaining.

More than 71,000 have already submitted their Ucas forms — up from 64,438 at the same point last year.

Oxford University, where the deadline for applications has passed, received 17,085 applications compared with 15,277 last year.

Virginia Isaac, acting chief executive of Ucas, said: “While it is pleasing to see the continued rise in applications, it is too early in the cycle to tell whether this significant increase will be sustained throughout 2010 entry. It does indicate, however, that in certain areas, once again, prospective students will be facing strong competition for places.”

The Government capped the number of university places this year despite a rise of 10 per cent in applications and more than 600,000 — a record number — wanting to start courses.

Wes Streeting, president of the National Union of Students, said: “We now have a clear indication that competition for university places will be fierce again during the next admissions round. Given that tens of thousands of people lost out this year, the Government must look immediately at an expansion of places.

“We share Gordon Brown’s belief that there must be no cap on the aspirations of the British people, and we call for the Labour and Conservative parties to make the funding commitment needed to ensure that no such cap exists.”

David Lammy, Higher Education Minister, said: “It is still early in the application cycle for next year but it is encouraging to see that overall application numbers in England to some of the most selective courses and institutions are up on this time last year.”

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