[holding answer 25 January 2007]: The latest available information for part-time entrants to undergraduate and postgraduate courses is shown in the table. Information for 2006-07 will be available from January 2008. Information on the socio-economic background of these students is not available.
The latest figures for acceptances to full-time undergraduate courses from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show that the percentage of acceptances from lower socio-economic groups has not fallen between 2004-05 and 2006-07.
From 2007-08, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) will collect data on the parental education of both full-time and part-time entrants to higher education. These data should provide useful information on the socio-economic background of these students.
Level of study Undergraduates Postgraduates Total 1997-98 138,605 70,215 208,815 1998-99 164,885 78,595 243,480 1999-2000 167,250 75,495 242,740 2000-01 181,625 75,090 256,715 2001-02 186,685 74,910 261,595 2002-03 205,450 77,475 282,925 2003-04 209,655 78,625 288,280 2004-05 222,335 78,850 301,185 2005-06 215,795 78,070 293,865 1 Including Open University Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest five, and are based on a snapshot count of students as at 1 December of each year. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)