To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time students under 22 years old withdrew from their higher education course in each year since 2001. (162122)

The information available on non-continuation of young higher education students is shown in Tables 1 and 2. The figures are taken from the Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Table 1 shows the proportion of UK-domiciled young (under 21) full-time first degree entrants to higher education institutions in England, who do not continue in higher education after their first year. Table 2 shows the proportion of UK-domiciled young (under 21) full-time other undergraduate entrants to higher education institutions in England who do not continue in higher education after their first year.

Figures for 2005/06 will become available in 2008.

HESA do not publish figures on the percentage of part-time students not continuing in higher education after their first year.

According to the 2004 figures published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the overall completion rate of 78 per cent. for Type A (first degree equivalent) courses in UK universities and colleges of higher education is the fifth highest among the OECD countries, after Japan, Ireland, Korea and Greece, and is above the OECD average of 70 per cent.