The latest figures from university admissions organisation UCAS are out, and they spell more trouble for the beleaguered IT industry, with students continuing to shun computer science courses in favour of other options.

The UCAS table of acceptances shows that just under 8,000 students have chosen computer science to study at degree level in 2008, a rise of 3.9 per cent from last year.

The number opting for mathematics, which is also historically an unpopular choice for students, rose by just over seven per cent to 5,681, while law leads the table with 14,528.

"I think the figures are appalling," argued Robert Chapman, chief executive of IT training provider Firebrand Training. "The fact that IT has a global skills shortage for directly qualified people and it's only getting 8,000 acceptances illustrates the problem it has – people think it's full of dull people with no personality."

Chapman added that most school leavers are not aware that a career in IT is on a par with other more established professions in terms of salary expectations and career development opportunities.

"I struggle to believe that what is being taught [in schools and universities] is putting people off," he argued. "IT needs to do a better job of advertising itself – there are some wonderfully creative roles there."