* Application numbers: This is the most readily available metric, but it doesn't account for the applicant pool's quality or the acceptance rate. A course with many applicants but a high acceptance rate might be less "in-demand" than a course with fewer applicants but a very low acceptance rate.
* Acceptance rate: A low acceptance rate suggests high demand, but again, doesn't consider the overall number of applications.
* Post-graduation employment rates/salaries: While not directly measuring "demand" at the application stage, this is a strong indicator of a course's perceived value and hence, indirectly, its attractiveness.
Therefore, it's impossible to give a definitive answer. However, courses consistently reported as highly competitive (implying high demand) include:
* Medicine: Almost universally highly competitive at all top universities.
* Law: Another extremely popular and competitive subject.
* Engineering Science: The engineering courses at Oxford are consistently highly sought after.
* Computer Science: The demand for computer science graduates is high globally, leading to intense competition for places.
It's important to note that the specific course *within* these broad subject areas (e.g., a particular engineering specialization) will also significantly influence demand. The relative popularity of these subjects also fluctuates year to year.