§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the age participation rate in full-time university education in each of the European Community member states;
(2) what is the age participation rate in all forms of full-time higher education in each of the European Community countries.
§ Mr. BrookeThe information in the form requested is not readily available. Comparisons of participation rates in higher education between countries are influenced by the precise structure of higher education in each country, in particular by the age of entry and the length of course, In some European Community countries students enter higher education later than in the United Kingdom and take longer to qualify.
A meaningful comparison can be obtained by showing all new entrants to higher education as a percentage of the age group within a "typical age range". The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has published statistics for European Community countries, except for Luxembourg where there is no higher education, on this basis. These participation rates are given in columns 2 and 3. Column 1 shows the age range encompassing at least 70 per cent. of all entrants to full-time higher education in each country, the yearly average
Universities in the United Kingdom Scottish Universities Total students Students charged home fees as percentage of total Total Students Students charged home fees as percentage of total 1973–74 16,275 96 3,448 96 1974–75 16,784 97 3,390 97 1975–76 17,368 97 3,418 97 1976–77 17,943 97 3,364 97 1977–78 18,376 97 3,283 97 1978–79 18,792 96 3,247 97 1979–80 19,190 96 3,234 96 1980–81 19,524 97 3,272 96 1981–82 19,719 97 3,303 96 1982–83 19,940 97 3,372 96