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Mr. Howard
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students were in higher education in each year since 1980. [94709]
Margaret Hodge
The latest available information is given in the table.
| Higher Education1Students in Great Britain | |||
| Year | Postgraduate | Undergraduate | Total2 |
| 1980–61 | 101,400 | 699,800 | 801,200 |
| 1981–82 | 102,600 | 728,900 | 831,500 |
| 1982–83 | 100,000 | 749,600 | 849,700 |
| 1983–84 | 103,400 | 767,900 | 871,300 |
| 1984–85 | 107,300 | 774,500 | 881,700 |
| 1985–86 | 114,200 | 795,100 | 909,300 |
| 1986–87 | 121,200 | 823,800 | 945,000 |
| 1987–88 | 125,600 | 842,300 | 968,000 |
| 1988–89 | 134,500 | 869,100 | 1,003,600 |
| 1989–90 | 145,700 | 920,900 | 1,066,700 |
| 1990–91 | 163,600 | 982,400 | 1,146,100 |
| 1991–92 | 188,900 | 1,079,000 | 1,267,900 |
| 1992–93 | 213,100 | 1,195,700 | 1,408,800 |
| 1993–94 | 236,900 | 1,304,400 | 1,541,300 |
| 1994–95 | 297,000 | 1,400,800 | 1,697,800 |
We welcome the increase in numbers. We now need to build on this as we look to make Foundation Degrees the standard two year qualification at this level.