HC Deb 25 May 1982 vol 24 cc306-7W
Mr. Kilfedder

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of third level student places required in Northern Ireland in 1985, 1990 and 1995.

Mr. Scott

I have made no such estimates, but I would draw the hon. Gentleman's attention to chapter 6 of the final report of the higher education review group for Northern Ireland, in which it was envisaged that the demand for full-time higher education places at institutions in Northern Ireland might fall within the ranges:

Year Full-time places
1985–86 13,000–14,000
1990–91 12,500–14,000
1995–96 10,500–12,500

In addition the group also assumed that part-time studies would grow modestly but steadily in the 1980s and 1990s.

New Entrants (21 and over)
1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81
Queen's University of Belfast
Under-graduates 206 184 187 181 198 166 103 104 101 134 155
Post-graduates 422 445 422 416 394 478 428 492 471 528 529
Total 628 629 609 597 592 644 531 596 572 662 684
New University of Ulster
Under-graduates 61 86 91 124 162 175 173 173 204 231 212
Post-graduates 37 79 87 100 90 95 82 71 79 92 89
Total 98 165 178 224 252 270 259 244 283 323 301
Total 726 794 787 821 844 914 790 840 855 985 985