HL Deb 02 February 2004 vol 656 cc73-4WA
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many first class honours degrees were awarded by universities in each of the four nations of the United K ingdom; and what percentage these represented of all first degrees awarded in each nation, in (a) 2003; (b) 1998; (c) 1993; (d) 1988; (e) 1983; (f) 1978; (g) 1973; and (h) 1968. [HL817]

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

The available data are tabulated below. Data for 1998 and 2003 include the new universities created following the 1992 Further and Higher Education Act—42 in 1998 and 44 in 2003.

Undergradute degrees awarded by UK Universities
Country Year Total degrees awarded Total First Class Hons Degree % First Class Hons Degree
England 68 32,945 2,311 7.0
73 39,244 3,045 7.8
78 48,814 3,259 6.7
83 57,875 3,804 6.6
88 55,254 4,729 8.6
93 67,070 6,606 9.8
98 187,183 16,459 8.8
2003 194,448 21,879 11.3
Wales 68 2,880 150 5.2
73 3,654 156 4.3
78 4,244 157 3.7
83 5,152 162 3.1
88 5,026 229 4.6
93 6,248 364 5.8
98 10,161 752 7.4
2003 12,686 1,293 10.0
Scotland 68 5,860 300 5.1
73 7,808 386 4.9
78 8,920 439 4.9
83 10,062 476 4.7
88 10,026 668 6.7
93 11,370 1,008 8.9
98 22,873 1,639 7.2
2003 23,941 2,086 8.7
Northern Ireland 68 1,051 66 6.3
73 1,771 72 4.1
78 1,679 55 3.3
83 1,829 55 3.0
88 3,450 128 3.7
93 4,419 300 6.8
98 6,500 518 8.0
2003 6,479 613 9.5

Source:

Universities' Statistical Record, Higher Education Statistics Agency.