§ Ms Jenny JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many students enrolled in their first year at universities in England for the academic years(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1998–99; [100247]
(2) how many students continued with their second year of study at English universities for the academic years (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1999–2000. [100246]
§ Mr. WicksThe available information is shown in the following table.
Full-time first degree students in higher education institutions in England Academic year Students in their first year of study Students in their second year of study 1996–97 259,647 — 1997–98 — 213,833 1998–99 261,433 — 1999–20001 — n/a 1 Data for 1999–2000 will not be available until April 2000. These figures cannot be used to calculate non-completion rates directly. Some students switch from full-time to part-time study, while others suspend studies for a year but return to qualify later. In addition the available figures will include those who are repeating the first year of their course and those who fail their first year examinations.
The latest information on non-completion rates published by the Department relates to students beginning full-time and sandwich first degree courses in 1995–96, and shows that between 18–19 per cent. of these students failed to complete their course, a low figure compared to other countries. ("Non-completion" covers students who leave their course for various reasons, over the duration of their course.)Information on student progression for individual higher education institutions in the UK will be published on 3 December, in the Higher Education Funding Council for England's "Higher Education 224W Performance Indicators". These calculations take into account the wider variety of patterns of attendance of students, including factors such as changing courses or institutions and repeating or intermitting years of study.