To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students enrolled on their first full-time degree course in the latest year for which figures are available. (317338)

Of the 423,455 full-time degree entrants to UK higher education institutions, 6,815 listed a degree as their highest qualification on entry to their 2008-09 degree. This leaves 416,640 entrants who had other qualifications listed. However, some entrants may have previously completed a degree, followed by a postgraduate course. These entrants would not be picked up as their highest qualification on entry would be listed as a postgraduate course, although they had previously studied a degree.