Hansard

Higher Education

Volume 463: debated on Monday 10 September 2007

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Mr. Boris Johnson

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) how many and what proportion of postgraduate students in (a) physics, (b) chemistry, (c) biochemistry and (d) all science subjects (i) had undertaken their first degree outside the UK and (ii) were non-UK domiciled in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; (150527)

(2) how many and what percentage of current postgraduate students have received first class degrees from (a) English, (b) UK and (c) non-UK universities, broken down by subject of study.

Bill Rammell

The available information is given in the tables. A new classification for recording subject of study was introduced in 2002/03 and so figures from 2002/03 onwards are not comparable to earlier years.

We do not hold information on the classification or subject of qualifications prior to the current qualification aim. The information on the qualifications held by entrants to HE courses is taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency's student record. This records the highest level of qualification held by students, but does not include further details of the qualification.

Postgraduate enrolments at higher education institutions in England by subject of study and highest qualification on entry—Academic years 1996/97 to 2001/02

Subject of study

1996/97

1997/98

1998/99

1999/2000

2000/01

2001/02

Total science(including physics, chemistry and biochemistry). Of which:

87,580

88,425

93,755

95,175

101,615

107,990

UK domicile and a graduate of an overseas institution

Number

1,715

1,795

1,850

1,910

2,230

2,640

Percentage

2.0

2.0

2.0

2.0

2.2

2.4

Non-UK domicile and a graduate of an overseas institution

Number

8,140

8,650

9,140

9,950

11,280

13,200

Percentage

9.3

9.8

9.7

10.5

11.1

12.2

Total non-UK domiciles

Number

21,015

21,415

23,595

25,205

28,140

30,865

Percentage

24.0

24.2

25.2

26.5

27.7

28.6

Physics. Of which:

2,720

2,495

2,575

2,390

2,310

2,370

UK domicile and a graduate of an overseas institution

Number

35

25

20

25

20

30

Percentage

1.3

1.0

0.8

1.0

0.8

1.2

Non-UK domicile and a graduate of an overseas institution

Number

355

400

415

390

395

385

Percentage

13.0

16.1

16.2

16.4

17.0

16.3

Total non-UK domiciles

Number

765

775

825

760

740

725

Percentage

28.1

31.0

32.1

31.7

32.1

30.6

Chemistry. Of which:

4,380

4,045

3,935

3,810

3,635

3,720

UK domicile and a graduate of an overseas institution

Number

50

45

45

45

35

55

Percentage

1.2

1.1

1.2

1.2

0.9

1.5

Non-UK domicile and a graduate of an overseas institution

Number

325

390

440

465

480

535

Percentage

7.4

9.6

11.2

12.2

13.1

14.4

Total non-UK domicile

Number

870

915

1,000

1,065

1,095

1,135

Percentage

19.8

22.6

25.5

28.0

30.1

30.5

Biochemistry. Of which:

1,405

1,280

1,315

1,265

1,285

1,100

UK domicile and a graduate of an overseas institution

Number

30

25

15

15

20

25

Percentage

2.1

2.0

1.3

1.3

1.6

2.5

Non-UK domicile and a graduate of an overseas institution

Number

145

160

175

130

160

165

Percentage

10.4

12.4

13.3

10.4

12.5

15.0

Total non-UK domicile

Number

320

325

370

340

370

315

Percentage

22.7

25.5

28.2

26.8

28.9

28.7

Total all subjects

258,835

265,155

276,205

282,030

295,580

309,150

Note:1. Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December excluding those writing up, on sabbatical or dormant. Students from the Open University are also excluded from the analysis. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record.

Postgraduate enrolments at higher education institutions in England by subject of study and highest qualification on entry—Academic years 2002/03 to 2005/06

Subject of study

2002/03

2003/04

2004/05

2005/06

Total science (including physics, chemistry and molecular biology and biochemistry) Of which:

115,775

122,230

125,105

125,770

UK domicile and a graduate of an overseas institution

Number

3,200

3,545

3,910

4,210

Percentage

2.8

2.9

3.1

3.3

Non-UK domicile and a graduate of an overseas institution

Number

17,805

21,010

23,050

23,560

Percentage

15.4

17.2

18.4

18.7

Total non-UK domiciles

Number

36,015

40,080

42,060

42,340

Percentage

31.1

32.8

33.6

33.7

Physics. Of which:

2,465

2,475

2,425

2,470

UK domicile and a graduate of an overseas institution

Number

35

35

40

45

Percentage

1.5

1.5

1.7

1.7

Non-UK domicile and a graduate of an overseas institution

Number

415

435

460

495

Percentage

16.9

17.6

19.1

20.1

Total non-UK domiciles

Number

740

745

765

775

Percentage

30.1

30.2

31 .7

31.3

Chemistry. Of which:

3,760

3,525

3,305

3,260

UK domicile and a graduate of an overseas institution

Number

50

65

55

65

Percentage

1.3

1.9

1.7

2.0

Non-UK domicile and a graduate of an overseas institution

Number

615

665

650

710

Percentage

16.4

18.8

19.6

21.8

Total non-UK domicile

Number

1,190

1,125

1,070

1,135

Percentage

31.6

31.9

32.4

34.8

Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry. Of which:

1,440

1,750

1,725

1,925

UK domicile and a graduate of an overseas institution

Number

30

35

35

45

Percentage

2.2

2.1

2.1

2.4

Non-UK domicile and a graduate of an overseas institution

Number

225

330

365

465

Percentage

15.6

18.8

21.2

24.1

Total non-UK domicile

Number

425

580

635

720

Percentage

29.4

33.1

36.8

37.5

Total all subjects

329,155

344,630

349,940

353,020

Note:1. Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December excluding those writing up, on sabbatical or dormant. Students from the Open University are also excluded from the analysis. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record.