HC Deb 10 July 1997 vol 297 cc574-5W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many female engineering undergraduates entered universities in the United Kingdom in each year since 1986; [7052]

(2) how many women graduated at first degree level in engineering in each year since 1988. [7053]

Dr. Howells

The available information is given in the following table.

Care should be taken in comparing the graduate and entrant numbers to derive "graduation rates" because graduates from a particular entrant cohort will not necessarily graduate together in the same year. Moreover, there are timing/coverage differences between the entrant and graduate figures throughout the time series as footnoted in the table.

Female engineering students at first degree level in the UK (000s)
Year1 2Entrants 3Graduates
1986 1.8
1987 1.9
1988 1.9 1.3
1989 2.5 1.3
1990 2.9 1.6
1991 3.6 1.8
1992 3.5 2.2
1993 4.1 2.5
1994 4.8 2.9
1995 4.7 3.2
1996 4.5 3.5
1 From 1994–95 data were collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
2 Data are for academic years. From 1988 figures include entrants to all higher education institutions including universities, polytechnics and other HE establishments. Prior to 1988, entrants to English establishments other than universities and polytechnics are excluded. Entrants to first degree study in further education establishments are excluded throughout.
3 Data are for calendar years up to 1993–94 and academic years thereafter. Up to 1994, graduates from all institutions including further education institutions are included. Thereafter graduates from FEIs are excluded.