Trend Analysis of the Demand and Supply of University Admission Places in Delta State University (2013 – 2017)

This study traced the trend of demand and supply of university admission places in Delta State University for 2013/14 to 2017/18 academic sessions vis-a-vis the prevailing situation in Nigeria. It adopted the ex post facto design. Three research questions were raised to guide the study. Findings revealed a worrisome gap between the total numbers of applicants and admitted candidates per session and pointed out that 102,594 was the total number of applicants while 29,460 representing 28.72% was the total number of admitted candidates for the five (5) years under review. It equally shows Clinical Medicine and Pharmacy as faculties with the least numbers of admissions. The study recommended that stakeholders should think of ways and means of expanding the university's 'carrying capacity' as well as attract adequate qualified manpower to enable the institution absorb more applicants. Again, it is recommended amongst other things that programmes such as Sandwich, Part-time programme and Continuous Education Programme (CEP) should be re-introduced as strategies of giving more applicants the opportunities to be admitted.