Higher Education: Overseas Students

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the number of foreign students who (a) were offered and (b) accepted a place to study a degree course at university in academic year 2009-10; and if he will make a statement. (322434)

The information is shown in the following table.

*Non-UK domiciled UCAS applicants receiving degree offers/accepted to degree courses in the UK*
Domicile	Received main scheme offers	Accepted for entry
Non-UK EU countries	30,783	23,103
Non-UK other countries	40,255	31,992
Total	71,038	55,095
Source: UCAS

In the main scheme, each applicant can submit up to five choices (with the exception of courses in medicine/dentistry/veterinary medicine where only four choices are permitted). Each choice is for a different course. Based on the offers they receive from institutions, the applicant may choose one firm and one insurance choice. The offers stipulate the exam grades required, in addition to any non-academic conditions, in order for the applicant to be accepted on the course.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students who do not speak English as a first language (a) were offered and (b) accepted a place on a degree course at university for academic year 2009-10; and if he will make a statement. (322436)

The information is not held centrally. Universities are autonomous bodies and set their own entry requirements. These will include assessment of competence in English language to ensure that students are able to benefit from their studies.

Volume 507: debated on Tuesday 16 March 2010