Written question asked by James Clappison (Conservative) on Wednesday, 19 May 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 June 2004. It was answered by Alan Johnson (Labour) on Monday, 7 June 2004 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 11th May 2004, 421 c300W on medical students, how many of the 95 students have ceased to pursue studies leading to registration with the General Medical Council and subsequent practice as a doctor. - Including figure for St George's Hospital Medical School.

Answer: Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 11 May, Official Report, column 300W, on medical students, how many of the 95 students have ceased to pursue studies leading to registration with the General Medical Council and subsequent practice as a doctor. [175415] Alan Johnson: Figures are not held centrally. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HECFE) publish non-completion rates of students on full-time undergraduate courses in `Performance Indicators in Higher Education', but, these are not calculated for individual subjects, courses or entry qualifications. It is generally agreed that non-completion rates are low in medicine and dentistry. For example, for full time first degree students starting their course in 2000/01, St. George's Hospital Medical School, the only remaining free-standing medical school in England, has a non-completion rate of 6 per cent. The overall non- completion rate for full-time first degree students at UK HE institutions, who began their studies in 2000/01, was estimated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England to be 16 per cent.

Secondary information