HL Deb 20 July 2004 vol 664 c25WA
Lord Harrison

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there has been a decline in Japanese studies in United Kingdom universities; if so, what steps they are taking to reverse the decline; and what funding is being made available for that purpose. [HL3796]

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

According to the Higher Education Statistical Agency, the number of students taking Japanese studies in UK higher education institutions has increased from 675 in 1999–2000 to 850 in 2001–02, the latest year for which directly comparable information is available. The figure for 2002–03 of 1,255 is partly attributable to a new method of allocating students to subject groups adopted by HESA.

Enrolments to "Japanese Studies" at UK HE institutions
Japanese Studies
Academic Year Postgraduate Undergraduate Total
1999–2000 160 515 675
2000–01 150 505 655
2001–02 200 650 850
2002–03 250 1,005 1,255

Source:

Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

Note:

Figures for 2002–03 are not directly comparable with those for earlier years. 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" categories 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.

Lord Harrison

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they collect statistics on the offer levels and grades required for entry to Japanese and Chinese studies courses at United Kingdom universities; and, if so, what was the average entry requirement in 2003. [HL3798]

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

This information is not collected centrally. Higher education institutions are autonomous organisations, responsible for admissions procedures and entry requirements to their courses. Information on the general entry requirements of individual undergraduate courses currently offered by higher education institutions is available from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service website atwww.ucas.ac.uk.