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Higher Education: Student Numbers

Volume 465: debated on Wednesday 24 October 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of young people are undertaking degrees and other advanced courses at universities. (155655)

The main measure for tracking progress on increasing participation is currently the Higher Education Initial Participation Rate (HEIPR). This is the sum of the HE initial participation rates for individual ages between 17 and 30 inclusive. It covers English-domiciled first time entrants to HE courses, which are expected to last for at least six months, at UK Higher Education Institutions and English, Scottish and Welsh Further Education Colleges, and who remain on their course for at least six months. The latest available figures are shown in Table 1:

Table 1: Higher Education Initial Participation Rate for 17-30 year olds

HEIPR: (%)

Number of initial participants

1999/2000

39 (39.3)

239,000

2000/01

40 (39.7)

239,000

2001/02

40 (40.2)

244,000

2002/03

41 (41.2)

255,000

2003/04

40 (40.3)

257,000

2004/05

41 (41.3)

268,000

2005/06

43 (42.8)

283,000

Note:

The HEIPR is usually published to the nearest integer, but the figures are included to one decimal place to inform comparisons over time. Numbers are quoted to the nearest thousand.

Source:

“Participation Rates in Higher Education: Academic Years 1999/2000-2005/06 (Provisional)”, published by DfES.

Figures for the young 17-20 age group are shown in Table 2:

Table 2: Higher Education Initial Participation Rate for 17-20 year olds

HEIPR20: (%)

Number of initial participants

1999/2000

31 (31.3)

188,000

2000/01

32 (31.9)

189,000

2001/02

33 (32.5)

194,000

2002/03

33 (32.7)

201,000

2003/04

32 (31.8)

204,000

2004/05

32 (32.1)

209,000

2005/06

34 (34.0)

226,000

Note:

The HEIPR is usually published to the nearest integer, but the figures are included to one decimal place to inform comparisons over time. Numbers are quoted to the nearest thousand.

Source:

“Participation Rates in Higher Education: Academic Years 1999/2000-2005/06 (Provisional)”, published by DfES.

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students graduated with a (a) first and (b) advanced degree in each of the last 15 years. (155663)

The available information is given in the table. Information for 1991/92, 1992/93 and 1993/94 is not available on a comparable basis for higher education institutions in England.

Postgraduate and first degrees obtained at higher education institutions in England, 1994/95 to 2005/06

Academic year

Doctorates

Masters

Other postgraduate1

First degree

1994/95

6,265

33,045

35,300

196,195

1995/96

8,180

38,545

40,750

207,745

1996/97

8,570

40,065

41,685

211,465

1997/98

9,070

44,370

39,980

212,905

1998/99

9,460

46,865

40,445

217,090

1999/2000

9,615

51,850

40,795

217,995

2000/01

9,625

54,160

44,265

217,655

2000/012

11,600

61,900

50,190

224,125

2001/02

11,750

65,760

53,435

225,850

2002/03

12,270

71,780

53,955

233,285

2003/04

12,765

82,945

59,875

241,030

2004/05

12,950

88,715

58,730

251,025

2005/06

13,730

92,205

59,155

260,630

1 Includes those obtaining PGCEs, postgraduate bachelors degrees, postgraduate diplomas and certificates.

2 These figures from 2000/01 include those qualifying from dormant modes of study. In 2000/01, around 25 per cent. of doctorate qualifiers obtained their qualification from a dormant mode of study. To illustrate the difference this makes to the figures, for 2000/01 figures have been provided for both methodologies.

Note:

Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.

Source:

Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record.