HC Deb 29 June 1998 vol 315 cc5-6W
Mr. Gorrie

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of those aged(a) under 21, (b) 21 to 24 and (c) over 25 years and over, registered in Northern Ireland, applied through UCAS for admission to a course of higher education for the (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996, (iv) 1997 and (v) 1998 entry cycles; what were the numbers of the population in Northern Ireland aged (a) to (c) for (i) to (v); and what was the proportion of those applying as a percentage of the appropriate population cohort. [47266]

Mr. Worthington

The information requested is set out in the tables.

NI domiciled applicants through UCAS
(a) Under (b) (c)
Year 21 years 21–24 years 25 years and over Total
1994 11,915 1,164 867 13,946
1995 12,419 1,278 930 14,627
1996 12,537 1,188 821 14,546
1997 13,584 1,418 904 15,906
1997 as at 16 May 19971 13,282 1,254 789 15,325
1998 as at 16 May 19981 13,167 1,157 651 14,975

Population estimates (mid-year)
Year (a) 18–20 years (b) 21–24 years (c) 25–39 years
1994 73,717 104,802 362,864
1995 72,096 103,125 366,664
1996 71,079 101,364 374,246
1997 69,805 99,736 377,190

Percentage
Protestant Roman Catholic Other Missing data1
Queen's University Belfast
Full-time undergraduate students who entered via UCAS 33 40 2 25
University of Ulster at Belfast
Full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students (1st year) 42 42 6 11
Part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students (1st year) 2 67 2 2
University of Ulster at Coleraine
Full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students (1st Year) 42 48 3 7
Part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students (1st year) 33 44 2 20
University of Ulster at Jordanstown
Full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students (1st year) 37 54 3 6
Part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students (1st year) 39 35 5 22
University of Ulster at Magee
Full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students (1st year) 12 69 4 16
Part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students (1st year) 11 64 3 22
1In these cases students have been asked the monitoring questions, but not answered
2Percentage not given if based in fewer than 5 students

Note:

No religion data are collected on Open University students

Population estimates (mid-year)
Year (a) 18–20 years (b) 21–24 years (c) 25–39 years
1998 71,099 95,945 379,554

NI domiciled UCAS applicants as percentage of the relevant population cohort
Year (a) Under 21 years (b) 21–24 years (c) 25 years and over
1994 16.2 1.1 0.2
1995 17.2 1.2 0.3
1996 17.6 1.2 0.2
1997 19.5 1.4 0.2
1997 as at 16 May 19971 19.0 1.3 0.2
1998 as at 16 May 19981 18.5 1.2 0.2
1Total applicant figures are not yet available for 1998. Therefore the latest available figures (as at 16 May 1998) are included along with the corresponding position at the same date in 1997 to allow comparisons to be made