To ask the Minister of State for Business, Innovation, and Skills how many and what proportion of postgraduate students studying (a) science, (b) technology, (c) engineering and (d) mathematics subjects took their first degree in the UK in (i) the period 1979 to 1984 and (ii) the latest period for which figures are available. (277816)

Figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show in the 2007/08 academic year 73,150 postgraduate enrolments listed their highest qualification on entry to their science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) postgraduate course as a first degree from a UK institution. This represents 41 per cent. of all STEM postgraduate enrolments whose highest qualification on entry is known. Equivalent figures for 1976 to 1980 are not available.

It is important to note that students who entered their STEM postgraduate course with a qualification higher than a first degree (i.e. those who already held a postgraduate qualification) will not be included in the above figures. A number of these students may have obtained a first degree from a UK institution.