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Higher Education: Student Wastage

Volume 471: debated on Monday 4 February 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many applicants accepted onto higher education courses did not commence those courses as first time students in (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06 and (c) 2006-07. (175790)

The available information, showing the number of students who obtained a place but opted to defer entry, is given in the table. The most recent information published by UCAS for 2007 entry shows that accepted applicants from England rose to 306,960, the highest ever figure.

English domiciled students accepted for entry to full-time undergraduate courses at UK HE institutions

Year of entry

All accepted applicants

Of which: Those deferring entry

2004

277,080

23,005

2005

301,800

25,170

2006

289,230

22,960

2007

306,960

23,259

Source:

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Figures cover students who were accepted to first degree, foundation degree, HND and Dip HE courses, at UK HE institutions and at a small number of FE colleges.