Hansard

Graduates

Volume 496: debated on Tuesday 21 July 2009

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Mr. Laws

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of (a) physics, (b) chemistry, (c) engineering and (d) information and communication technology graduates were women in each year since 2001. (284281)

Mr. Lammy

The number and proportion of female postgraduates and undergraduates qualifying in Physics, Chemistry, Engineering and Computer Science are shown in the tables. Figures for the 2008-09 academic year will be available in January 2010.

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) changed their method of coding subjects for the academic year from 2002-03 so it is not possible to make direct comparisons with figures prior to this date. As a result the time series shown in the table commence from 2002, rather than 2001 as requested.

Female postgraduate qualifiers1 in physics, chemistry, engineering and computer science, UK higher education institutions: Academic years 2002-03 to 2007-08

Physics

Chemistry

Engineering

Computer science2

Number

%

Number

%

Number

%

Number

%

2002-03

220

23

915

39

1,410

17

2,530

30

2003-04

220

24

630

39

1,710

18

2,345

28

2004-05

245

26

580

38

2,090

19

2,205

25

2005-06

255

26

560

40

2,240

19

2,020

24

2006-07

255

26

605

40

2,150

18

1,780

22

2007-08

255

25

510

37

2,225

19

1,815

22

1 Covers female postgraduate qualifiers of all domiciles from full-time and part-time courses

2 Includes computer science, information systems, software engineering, artificial intelligence and other broadly based programmes.

Notes:

1. Figures exclude the Open University due to their incorrect coding of subjects across the time series.

2. figures are rounded to the nearest five.

3. Percentages are rounded to the nearest integer.

Source:

Higher Education Statistics Agency

Female undergraduate qualifiers1 in physics, chemistry, engineering and computer science, UK higher education institutions: Academic years 2002-03 to 2007-08

Physics

Chemistry

Engineering

Computer science2

Number

%

Number

%

Number

%

Number

%

2002-03

520

23

1,510

45

2,665

12

6,185

25

2003-04

515

23

1,450

47

2,740

13

6,275

24

2004-05

480

21

1,520

49

2,585

12

5,690

22

2005-06

530

22

1,260

46

2,730

13

4,970

21

2006-07

500

22

1,335

46

2,595

12

4,240

20

2007-08

520

22

1,375

44

2,750

12

3,840

20

1 Covers female undergraduate qualifiers of all domiciles from full-time and part-time courses

2 Includes computer science, information systems, software engineering, artificial intelligence and other broadly based programmes.

Notes:

1. Figures exclude the Open University due to their incorrect coding of subjects across the time series.

2. figures are rounded to the nearest five.

3. Percentages are rounded to the nearest integer.

Source:

Higher Education Statistics Agency