HC Deb 10 March 2003 vol 401 cc79-80W
Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students were in higher education in each year since 1980. [94709]

Margaret Hodge

The latest available information is given in the table.

Higher Education1 Students in Great Britain
Year Postgraduate Undergraduate Total2
1980–61 101,400 699,800 801,200
1981–82 102,600 728,900 831,500
1982–83 100,000 749,600 849,700
1983–84 103,400 767,900 871,300
1984–85 107,300 774,500 881,700
1985–86 114,200 795,100 909,300
1986–87 121,200 823,800 945,000
1987–88 125,600 842,300 968,000
1988–89 134,500 869,100 1,003,600
1989–90 145,700 920,900 1,066,700
1990–91 163,600 982,400 1,146,100
1991–92 188,900 1,079,000 1,267,900
1992–93 213,100 1,195,700 1,408,800
1993–94 236,900 1,304,400 1,541,300
1994–95 297,000 1,400,800 1,697,800

We welcome the increase in numbers. We now need to build on this as we look to make Foundation Degrees the standard two year qualification at this level.