Proportions
of UK domiciled higher education students undertaking courses
at a local university
| Subject
| 2000 |
2001 | 2002
| 2003 |
2004 |
| Chemistry | 20%
| 20% | 22%
| 24% | 23%
|
| Physics, astronomy |
13% | 15%
| 16% | 18%
| 17% |
| Other physical sciences
| n/a | n/a
| 22% | 17%
| 17% |
| Mathematical sciences |
21% | 23%
| 23% | 23%
| 22% |
| Computer sciences | 41%
| 41% | 41%
| 41% | 41%
|
| Molecular biology, biophysics, biochemistry
| 20% | 20%
| 21% | 21%
| 21% |
| Other biological sciences
| 21% | 22%
| 22% | 23%
| 24% |
| Electronic and electrical engineering
| 33% | 33%
| 33% | 34%
| 33% |
| Mechanically-based engineering
| 26% | 26%
| 26% | 26%
| 24% |
| Other engineering | 21%
| 21% | 21%
| 21% | 22%
|
Notes:
a. These percentages are based on headcounts
of students studying a course involving a science subject.
b. The headcounts relate to HEFCE populations
used in previous analysis of STEM subjects. They do not exactly
correspond to statistics published by HESA.
c. Students taking a course in two or more
science subjects will be counted more than once in these figures,
i.e. a student registered on a chemistry and physics course will
be included in both the chemistry numbers and the physics numbers.
d. These figures include both full-time and
part-time student, undergraduate and postgraduate students, registered
at UK HEIs. ..
e. Students registered with the OU have been
excluded due to a change in the way subjects of qualification
aim were recorded by the OU between 2002 and 2003
f. The drive-time is measured between a student's
home postcode and the place of study. This may be a campus some
distance from the main campus of the institution or an FE college
where the provision is through a franchised arrangement.
What steps are taken to monitor the factors influencing
the choices of subject and university made by young students;
and what research has been commissioned on this subject?
A study "Attitudes to Debt" was published
in 2003, which looked at how financial considerations impacted
on students' choice of both institution and subject. The most
important factor in a student's decision-making process was choice
of subject. As noted in our response to Question 3 above, the
Department has convened a steering group for evaluation activity
designed to inform the independent review of the student support
arrangements reporting to Parliament in 2009.
| 
