§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the total postgraduate studentships awarded by the Department of Education to both male and female students in the past four years; and if he will give details as to the criteria under which the awards are made and the value of such awards and the subjects covered.
§ Mr. GoodhartThe information is as follows:
1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 Male 164 202 187 180 Female 42 74 73 80 Total 206 276 260 260 Applicants should be ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland for three years prior to the start of the course; hold a good honours degree, normally from a university or polytechnic in the British Isles; and be recommended for an award by the head of department at the institution of graduation. As the number of studentships in any year is limited, they are allocated on a competitive basis primarily with regard to academic merit.
The value of a studentship, covering maintenance grant and tuition fees, averaged £1,547, £2,372, £2,673 and £3,005 respectively in each of the four academic years.
Studentships covered subjects in science, technology, natural environment, social science and humanities, but not agriculture or medicine.
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§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of postgraduate bursaries awarded by the Department of Education to both male and female students in the past four years; and if he will give details of the criteria under which the awards are made and the value of such awards and the subjects covered.
§ Mr. GoodhartThe information is as follows:
1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 Male 17 73 73 86 Female 23 31 44 72 Total 40 104 117 158 Applicants for bursaries must be ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom for three years and resident in Northern Ireland on the relevant date prior to the start of the course, and should hold a university degree or equivalent qualification. As the number of bursaries in any year is limited, they are allocated on a competitive basis primarily with regard to academic merit.
The value of bursaries covering maintenance grant and tuition fees, averaged £896, £1,587, £1,899 and £2,126 respectively in each of the four academic years and covered art and design, continuing education, European studies, film and theatre studies, interpreting and translating, journalism, legal studies, library studies, management and industrial relations and tourism.