Written question asked by James Clappison (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 May 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 June 2008. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Friday, 6 June 2008 on behalf of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Higher Education: Medicine

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) what the retention rate for medical students (a) undertaking courses leading to qualification as a doctor and (b) on widening participation programmes undertaking courses leading to qualification as a doctor was in the last period for which figures are available;

Answer: The most recent national figures for retention are from 2004-05. The proportion of young full-time first-degree entrants to medicine, dentistry and veterinary science courses who left by the end of the first year was 1.9 per cent.Data on medical completion are not held centrally.Several medical schools run schemes to encourage applications from bright students from disadvantaged or non-traditional backgrounds, but data on admissions, costs and student outcomes for these schemes are not collected centrally.

Secondary information