Physics: Degrees Mr. Jenkins To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many first degree physics undergraduates there are; and what the equivalent figures were in (a) 2003, (b) 1998 and (c) 1993. Bill Rammell The latest available information is given in the table. Due to a change in the methodology for recording subject in 2002/03, comparisons between figures for 2001/02 and earlier, and those for 2002/03 onwards cannot be made; Comparable figures for the 2007/08 academic year will be available in January 2009. Latest figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show that applicants who were accepted to full-time first degree courses in physics in 2007/08 increased by 10 per cent. compared to the previous year. 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|Academic year |Physics students| 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|1994/95 |7,730 | 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|1998/994 |8,035 | 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|2003/04 |7,795 | 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|2006/07 |7,835 | 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|1 Includes both full-time and part-time undergraduates from the UK and overseas.2 Figures from the Open University have been excluded from the analysis.3 Figures for first degree physics students are not available for 1993/94 academic year, only for physical sciences as a whole. Therefore, comparable figures for the 1994/96 academic year have been provided as an alternative.4 In 2002/03 the methodology for recording subject of study was changed on the student record. Aside from the introduction of a new coding frame, JACS (previously a system called HESACODE was used), students were apportioned between their subjects of study rather than being assigned on a headcount basis to their major subject. As such, comparisons between figures for 2001/02 and earlier, and those for 2002/03 onwards cannot be made.Note:Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December excluding those writing up, on sabbatical or dormant and are rounded to the nearest 5.Source:Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)| | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------