§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many places for veterinary science were offered by UK universities in each of the last five years; and how many applications there were for university places in veterinary science in each of those years. [119227]
§ Alan Johnson[holding answer 16 June 2003]: Information on the numbers of places for veterinary science is not held centrally. The Higher Education Funding Council for England has responsibility for funding the number of HE places in English HE institutions, but these places are funded in terms of four broad price groups, rather than individual subjects. The price groups recognise that some subjects, such as those that involve laboratory or workshop activities, require higher levels of resource to those that are mainly classroom based. Veterinary Science is included in highest price group along with clinical medicine and dentistry.
371WThe available figures for applicants and acceptances for Veterinary Science courses in the United Kingdom via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) are shown in the following table.
Applicants and acceptances to full-time undergraduate courses in Veterinary Science Year of entry Applicants1 Acceptances1 1998 1,790 620 1999 1,800 630 2000 1,760 660 2001 1,610 700 2002 1,600 770 1 Covers both home and overseas students. Note:
Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.