HC Deb 28 January 1985 vol 72 cc33-4W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the number of students who have enrolled with the Open University each year since it was established in 1969.

Mr. Brooke

The Open University admitted its first undergraduates in 1971. In 1973 its continuing education programme admitted associate students, who take single undergraduate level courses but do not follow a degree course. The university extended its continuing education programme in 1974 by introducing a programme of sport courses and packs, mainly in vocationally relevant subjects. The figures for the number of students enrolled in each year in each category are as follows:

Under-graduate Students Associate Students Short Courses and Packs
1971 19,581
1972 31,902
1973 38,424 1,885
1974 42,636 1,350 1,584
1975 49,358 4,188 1,768
1976 51,035 4,578 118
1977 55,127 5,576 6,096
1978 58,788 6,923 13,713
1979 60,963 8,778 10,311

Under-graduate Students Associate Students Short Courses and Packs
1980 61,446 7,889 25,317
1981 60,550 7,078 18,507
1982 64,422 7,150 29,818
1983 66,403 7,367 40,756
1984 66,763 8,675 *43,031
* (Provisional)