HC Deb 19 July 2004 vol 424 cc94-6W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of higher education students studied(a) physical sciences, (b) medicine, (c) dentistry, (d) engineering and technology and (e) architecture, building and planning in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 2002–03. [183268]

Alan Johnson

The available information is given in the table. A new method of allocating students to subject groups was introduced in 2002/03, the effect of which was to decrease the number of students in the 'combined' category and increase those who were allocated to specific subjects. This means that the figures for 2002/03 are not directly comparable with those for earlier years so the comparisons in the table have been made with 2001/02 instead.

Proportion of all HE Enrolments at UK HEIs studying specific subjects
Percentage
Subject group 1996/97 2001/02 2002/03
Physical Sciences 4.1 3.2 3.3
Pre-clinical/Clinical Medicine 1.9 2.0 2.0
Pre-clinical/Clinical Dentistry 0.3 0.3 0.3
Engineering and Technology 7.5 6.4 6.0
Architecture, Building and Planning 2.7 2.2 2.1
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in which academic areas the percentage of higher education students studying a particular subject has fallen since 1997; and by what amounts. [183312]

Alan Johnson

The available information is given in the table. A new method of allocating students to subject groups was introduced in 2002/03, the effect of which was to decrease the number of students in the 'combined' category and increase those who were allocated to specific subjects. This means that the figures for 2002/03 are not directly comparable with those for earlier years so the comparisons in the table have been made with 2001/02 instead.

Distribution of higher education students at UK HE institutions by subject of stud
Percentage of all HE enrolments
Subject 1997/98 2001/02 Change
Medicine and Dentistry 2.2 2.3 0.0
Subjects Allied to Medicine 9.2 11.0 1.7
Biological Sciences 4.8 4.6 -0.2
Veterinary Science 0.2 0.2 0.0
Agriculture and Related Subjects 0.8 0.8 -0.0

Distribution of higher education students at UK HE institutions by subject of study
Percentage of all HE enrolments
Subject 1997/98 2001/02 Change
Physical Sciences 3.9 3.2 -0.7
Mathematical Sciences 1.1 1.1 0.0
Computer Science 4.3 5.7 1.4
Engineering and Technology 7.1 6.4 -0.8
Architecture, Building and Planning 2.5 2.2 -0.3
Social, Economic and Political Science 7.2 7.0 -0.2
Law 3.2 3.2 0.0
Business and Administrative Studies 12.4 11.7 -0.7
Librarianship and Information Science
Languages 5.1 4.7 -0.4
Humanities 3.4 3.2 -0.2
Creative Arts and Design 5.3 5.7 0.4
Education 7.5 7.4 -0.1
Combined 18.5 18.2 -0.3
Total 100.0 100.0 n/a
n/a = Not applicable.
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Percentage of all higher education students in the above subjects in 2002/031
Subject 2002/03
Medicine 2.3
Subjects Allied to Medicine 11.4
Biological Sciences 5.9
Veterinary Science 0.2
Agriculture and Related Subjects 0.7
Physical Sciences 3.3
Mathematical Science 1.2
Computing Science 6.1
Engineering and Technology 6.0
Architecture, Building and Planning 2.1
Social Studies 7.7
Law 3.7
Business and Administrative Studies 13.0
Mass Communications and Documentation 1.9
Languages 5.9
Historical and Philosophical Studies 3.9
Creative Arts and Design 6.3
Education 7.3
Combined 11.2

May 1997 July 2004
Higher Education
Full-time students Student grant (mandatory awards from LEAs). Grants for fees.
Grants for dependants—adults and children. Grants for dependants—adults and children.
Travelling expenses. Travel grant.
Disabled students allowances. Student loan (25 per cent. means-tested).
Discretionary access funds. Discretionary hardship fund.
Hardship loan.
Part-time Students No means-tested benefits available. Part-time student loan.
Further Education Learner support funds. Learner support funds.
Education maintenance allowance.
Adult learning grants.
School Age Free school meals. Free school meals.
Free school milk. Free school milk.
Remission of charges for the cost of board and lodging while attending residential school trips. Remission of charges for the cost of board and lodging while attending residential school trips.

1 For the academic year 2002/03 HESA uses a different method of allocating students to subject groups and so figures are not comparable to earlier years.

Source:

Higher Education Statistics Agency.