The number of people taking up the study of scientifically-based subjects at University has been on a steady decline now for a number of years. Indeed, this is now such a significant problem, the government has intervened and attempted to make these subjects more appealing to school leavers.
This means that there are more grants available to potential students in science-based subjects, than there are for the subjects that still tend to be over-subscribed (e.g. law).
Whether you have an interest in research in applied microbiology or palaeontology, the competition to study such a course is likely to be considerably less fierce than if you opt for other undergraduate subjects.
This must have a knock-on effect in the workplace. Many companies in the UK are actually having to look abroad for people that have the relevant qualifications to work for them and this is a massive shame and cannot be any good for our economy.
It is strongly suggested that you think long and hard about the subject that you decide to study when leaving school with your handful of A’ levels. If you go for a subject that is overly-subscribed, the eventual degree will not carry anything like as much weight, when entering the workplace, as a degree that is in a subject that is under-subscribed.