Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 21 November 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 November 2007. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 February 2008 on behalf of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Science: Admissions

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students were admitted to a UK university to study an undergraduate course in (a) physics, (b) chemistry, (c) biology, (d) engineering and (e) computer science in each of the last 10 years.
Answer

The latest available information for students entering full and part-time courses is given in the first two tables. Figures for 2006/07 will be available in January 2008.A new classification for recording subject of study was introduced in 2002/03 and so figures from 2002/03 onwards are not comparable to earlier years.Recent figures for students obtaining places on full-time undergraduate courses via UCAS are shown in the third table.

Undergraduate entrants by subject of study—UK Higher Education Institutions ¹—academic years 1996/97 to 2001/02
Subject of study
Academic year Physics Chemistry Biology Engineering² Computer Science
1996/97 3,375 5,750 7,250 37,220 27,245
1997/98 3,535 5,775 7,190 37,810 29,220
1998/99 3,340 5,540 6,960 36,250 32,145
1999/2000 3,075 4,890 6,530 34,985 34,255
2000/01 2,845 4,260 6,315 34,390 38,570
2001/02 2,835 4,145 6,180 35,175 40,975
¹ Students from the Open University are excluded from the analysis.
² Engineering includes—General Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Naval Architecture, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Production and Manufacture Engineering, Chemical, Process and Energy Engineering, Others in Engineering and Balanced Combinations.
Notes:
Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December excluding those writing up, on sabbatical or dormant. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record.
Undergraduate entrants by subject of study—UK Higher Education Institutions¹—Academic years 2002/03 to 2005/06
Subject of study
Academic year Physics Chemistry Biology Engineering ² Computer Science
2002/03 3,140 4,710 6,985 32,765 34,600
2003/04 3,210 4,480 7,415 31,465 27,600
2004/05 3,105 4,205 7,455 32,235 22,335
2005/06 3,210 4,440 7,905 31,940 21,675
¹ Students from the Open University are excluded from the analysis.
² Engineering includes—General Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Naval Architecture, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Production and Manufacture Engineering, Chemical, Process and Energy Engineering, Others in Engineering and Balanced Combinations.
Notes:
Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December excluding those writing up, on sabbatical or dormant. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record.
Accepted applicants to full-time undergraduate courses—year of entry 2005 to 2007
Year of entry ¹
Subject 2005 2006 2007
Physics 2,933 2,919 3,219
Chemistry 3,463 3,581 3,895
Biology 4,900 4,288 4,429
Engineering 21,405 19,889 20,713
Computer Science 10,753 9,936 9,905
¹ Figures as at October 17 in each year.
Source:
UCAS

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
168298; 472 c760-2W
Session
2007-08
Subjects
Admissions Higher education Science
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk