Student Numbers

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students there were on non-prescribed higher education courses in each of the last 10 years, broken down by course type. (149095)

The available information is given in the tables.

*Enrolments at English Higher Education Institutions*^1, *Academic Years 1996/97 to 2005/06*
Qualification Aim	1996/97	1997/98	1998/99	1999/2000	2000/01
Total prescribed courses	1,204,615	1,226,300	1,244,505	1,249,595	1,275,890
Total non-prescribed courses Of which:	95,850	97,455	110,405	107,220	107,305
Of which:
Professional qualifications²	15,235	15,945	18,930	18,355	16,320
Foundation courses at HE level	4,385	4,075	4,650	4,345	4,880
Other formal HE qualifications below degree level	10,620	7,950	8,755	5,555	6,065
Qualified Teacher Status only (licensed teachers)	0	0	20	5	10
NVQ level 5	455	290	225	105	40
NVQ level 4	1,375	920	570	235	380
Institutional undergraduate credit	47,585	50,955	58,705	62,440	62,010
Institutional postgraduate credit	4,890	5,750	5,510	5,650	6,785
No formal undergraduate qualification	9,755	10,380	11,690	9,455	9,610
No formal postgraduate qualification	1,550	1,185	1,345	1,080	1,205
Total all courses	1,300,465	1,323,755	1,354,910	1,356,815	1,383,200

Qualification Aim	2001/02	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06
Total prescribed courses	1,320,565	1,404,635	1,452,700	1,473,215	1,514,010
Total non-prescribed courses	105,765	94,310	94,370	95,925	93,190
Of which:
Professional qualifications²	13,145	11,320	12,725	10,930	10,280
Foundation courses at HE level	3,560	0	0	0	0
Other formal HE qualifications below degree level	4,465	2,880	3,980	3,630	3,485
Qualified Teacher Status only (licensed teachers)	25	125	160	285	240
NVQ level 5	25	30	40	15	0
NVQ level 4	520	505	500	635	70
Institutional undergraduate credit	68,215	62,085	60,955	56,835	60,890
Institutional postgraduate credit	4,600	6,970	6,355	7,880	6,620
No formal undergraduate qualification	9,570	8,820	8,295	14,285	9,040
No formal postgraduate qualification	1,640	1,580	1,360	1,435	2,560
Total all courses	1,426,335	1,498,950	1,547,070	1,569,140	1,607,200
¹ Figures exclude the Open university due to changes in their methodology of coding the qualification aim of a student since 1997/98. ²Includes professional qualification at undergraduate level, including those for serving school teachers. Note: Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December (excluding those writing up, on sabbatical or dormant) and are rounded to the nearest 5. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record.

Volume 463: debated on Monday 3 September 2007