§ Mr. Ian BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate how many and what proportion of the total number of students studying in higher education expect their post-18 education to last(a) one year, (b) two years, (c) three years, (d) four years, (e) five years, (f) six years, (g) seven years and (h) more than eight years. [16431]
§ Dr. HowellsThe available information, which shows the expected course length of students currently enrolled on higher education courses, is given in the following table. The information covers the current course of students only; it does not cover previous or future courses which students have undertaken or intend to undertake.
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Home and overseas higher educations students in higher education institutions in the UK 1996–97 Postgraduates Undergraduates Expected length of course Numbers Percentage1 Numbers Percentage1 Full-time 1 year or less 76,892 56.8 27,552 2.9 More than 1 year, up to 2 years 20,717 15.3 54,625 5.7 More than 2 years, up to 3 years 29,022 21.4 544,290 56.4 More than 3 years, up to 4 years 6,039 4.5 301,862 31.3 More than 4 years, up to 5 years 1,371 1.0 33,578 3.5 More than 5 years, up to 6 years 421 0.3 2,927 0.3 More than six years 995 0.7 73 0.0 Unknown2 2,766 — 22,840 — Total 138,223 — 987,747 — Part-time 1 year or less 39,303 22.5 43,657 24.0 More than 1 year, up to 2 years 60,151 34.5 41,784 23.0 More than 2 years, up to 3 years 40,830 23.4 25,802 14.2 More than 3 years, up to 4 years 13,320 7.6 20,869 11.5 More than 4 years, up to 5 years 11,295 6.5 29,656 16.3
Home and overseas higher educations students in higher education institutions in the UK 1996–97 Postgraduates Undergraduates Expected length of course Numbers Percentage1 Numbers Percentage1 More than 5 years, up to 6 years 6.931 4.0 16,285 9.0 More than 6 years 2,583 1.5 3,515 1.9 Unknown2 39,443 — 176,888 — Total 213,856 — 358,456 — 1 Based on courses with known length. 2 Including courses where there is not a defined normal length for the study programme.