HC Deb 03 November 2003 vol 412 cc462-3W
Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the drop-out rate was at universities in England and Wales in each year since 1997. [130377]

Alan Johnson

The latest available figures giving non-completion rates for students starting full-time first degree courses in England and in Wales are as follows:

Non-completion for students starting full-time first degree courses in England and Wales
Non completion rate (percentage)1
Students starting courses in: England Wales
1999/2000 16 15
1998/99 16 14
1997/98 16 16
1 Non-completion is regarded as those who do not gain a qualification from their original course or from any other course and do not transfer to another institution.

Source:

HEFCE Performance Indicators

Figures published in 2003 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) show that the UK as a whole has one of the lowest non-completion rates among OECD countries.