News Release Page Title

28 March 2000

STUDENTS GAINING HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS: NORTHERN IRELAND 1998/99

Introduction

This Press Release has been produced by the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (DHFETE) using data collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). It gives details of qualifications obtained by Northern Ireland (NI) domiciled students on Higher Education courses at Higher Education institutions in the UK and details of all students on Higher Education courses at Higher Education institutions in NI for the academic year 1998/99.

NI domiciled students gaining qualifications at UK Higher Education institutions

 

NI domiciled students gaining HE qualifications at UK HE institutions

  • Between 1996/97 and 1998/99, the number of first degrees increased by 2%, and other undergraduate awards (including HND and Dip HE) by 35%1 whereas higher degrees awarded decreased by 10%.
  • The number of NI domiciled students achieving either first class or upper second class honours degrees increased by 12% from 4,012 in 1996/97 to 4,492 in 1998/99.
  • Between 1996/97 and 1998/99, NI domiciled students gaining undergraduate qualifications at NI HE institutions rose by 13% compared to a decrease of 2% for those attending GB HE institutions. Over the same period, there was a decline of 4% in the numbers of NI domiciled students gaining postgraduate qualifications at GB HE institutions2.
  • In 1998/99, 21% of NI domiciled students gaining undergraduate qualifications and 54% of those attaining postgraduate qualifications gained their awards through part-time study3.
  • In 1998/99, 62% of NI domiciled students attaining undergraduate qualifications and 53% of those gaining postgraduate qualifications were female.
  • The most popular subjects for NI domiciled first degree graduates were Business and Administrative Studies (16%), Subjects Allied to Medicine (10%) and Social Studies (8%). The most popular subject areas for postgraduate qualifiers were Education and Leisure (35%), Business and Administrative Studies (13%) and Social Studies (6%).
  • In 1998/99, 58% of female first degree graduates gained either first class honours or upper second class honours degrees compared to 48% of male first degree graduates. Conversely, 11% of male first degree graduates attained pass or unclassified degrees compared to 9% of female graduates.
  • A large proportion of NI domiciled first degree graduates in Medicine and Dentistry (95%), Veterinary Science (87%) (see Notes to Editors), Engineering and Technology (16%), Information Technology (11%) and Architecture (9%) received pass or unclassified degrees. Conversely, over 99% of NI first degree graduates in Law, Languages and Related Disciplines and Humanities attained honours degrees.

 

1 Includes the NI Universities and Colleges of Education only.

2 It appears that students receiving interim awards on linked Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and Masters courses in 1996/97 were not recorded by the University of Ulster. From 1998/99 onwards, the University of Ulster no longer confers interim awards to students on these linked courses.

3 Writing up theses is classified as "part-time". See Notes to Editors.

Students gaining HE qualifications at NI HE institutions1

  • Between 1996/97 and 1998/99, the number of first degrees awarded at the NI Higher Education institutions increased by 3%, and other undergraduate awards (including HND and Dip HE) by 66%2 whereas higher degrees awarded declined by 16%.
  • The number of students achieving either first class or upper second class honours degrees grew by 14% from 3,413 in 1996/97 to 3,878 in 1998/99.
  • In 1998/99, 23% of students at NI Higher Education institutions gaining undergraduate qualifications and 58% of those attaining postgraduate qualifications, gained their awards through part-time study3.
  • In 1998/99, 65% of students attaining undergraduate qualifications at NI Higher Education institutions and 54% of those gaining postgraduate qualifications were female. Of those graduating with higher degrees, 51% were male.
  • The most popular subjects for first degree graduates from NI Higher Education institutions were Business and Administrative Studies (16%), Subjects Allied to Medicine (12%), Social Studies (8%) and Biological Sciences (8%). The most popular subject areas for postgraduate qualifiers were Education (29%), Business and Administrative Studies (14%), Subjects Allied to Medicine (8%) and Social Studies (8%).
  • In 1998/99, 64% of female first degree graduates gained either first class honours or upper second class honours degrees compared to 53% of male first degree graduates. Conversely, 9% of male first degree graduates attained pass or unclassified degrees compared to 4% of female graduates.
  • A large proportion of first degree graduates in Medicine and Dentistry (see Notes to Editors) (98%), Engineering and Technology (16%), Information Technology (9%) and Mathematical Sciences and Informatics (8%) received pass or unclassified degrees. Conversely, all first degree qualifiers in Agriculture and related subjects, Law, Languages and Related Disciplines, Mass Communication and Documentation and Education and Leisure attained honours degrees.

 

 1 Includes the NI Universities and Colleges of Education only.

2 It appears that students receiving interim awards on linked Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and Masters courses in 1996/97 were not recorded by the University of Ulster. From 1998/99 onwards, the University of Ulster no longer confers interim awards to students on these linked courses.

3 Writing up theses is classified as "part-time". See Notes to Editors.

 

Tables

Table 1 shows, for 1998/99, the numbers of NI domiciled students gaining HE qualifications at HE institutions in the UK by qualifications obtained, mode of study, location of study and sex.

Table 2 gives, for 1998/99, details of NI domiciled students gaining HE qualifications at HE institutions in the UK by qualifications obtained, subject group, and sex.

Table 3 presents information for 1998/99 on NI domiciled first degree graduates at UK Higher Education institutions by degree classification, sex and subject group.

Table 4 shows, for 1998/99, the number of students gaining HE qualifications at NI HE institutions by qualifications obtained, mode of study, domicile and sex.

Table 5 gives, for 1998/99, details on students gaining HE qualifications at NI HE institutions by qualifications obtained, subject group and sex.

Table 6 presents information for 1998/99 on first degree graduates who were on HE courses at NI HE institutions by degree classification, sex and subject group.

The Annex compares 1996/97, 1997/98 and 1998/99 information on NI domiciled students attaining Higher Education qualifications at UK HE institutions and qualifications attained on Higher Education courses at NI HE institutions.

 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is the official agency for the collection of information on publicly funded Higher Education institutions in the UK. It was set up in 1993 following the White Paper 'Higher Education: a new framework', which called for more coherence in Higher Education statistics. Higher Education institutions include all publicly-funded universities (including the former polytechnics). HESA data do not include enrolments at FE colleges in NI or GB nor enrolments at institutions in the Republic of Ireland.

2. Higher education is defined as a course leading to a qualification above A-level standard. This includes first degree and postgraduate study, BTEC Higher National Diploma and Certificate courses and a number of professional qualifications.

3. Figures for 1998/99 reported in this Press Release are counts of student enrolments associated with the award of an HE qualification during the period 1 August 1998 to 31 July 1999.

4. Level of course.

(i) Postgraduate courses are those leading to higher degrees, diplomas and certificates (including PGCE and professional qualifications) which usually require a first degree as an entry qualification.

    1. Higher degrees include doctorates, masters degrees and higher bachelor degrees.
    1. Other postgraduate includes postgraduate diplomas, certificates and professional qualifications, PGCE and institutional postgraduate credit.

(iv) First degrees include first degrees, first degrees with qualified teacher status, enhanced first degrees, first degrees obtained concurrently with a diploma and intercalated first degrees.

(v) Other undergraduate includes all higher education courses not included above i.e. undergraduate diplomas and certificates.

5. Mode of attendance distinguishes students studying full-time or part-time and other.

(i) Full-time students include all students studying full-time (for more than 18 weeks in the academic year), students on thick or thin sandwich courses, and those on a study-related year out of their institution.

(ii) Part-time students include those studying part-time, on block release, during evenings only, or full-time for less than 18 weeks. Students writing up theses or on sabbatical are included in the figures, in the 'Part-time and other' category.
  1. Qualifications obtained have been aggregated to 19 broad subject areas. Depending on their academic content, qualifications have been assigned to the 19 subject areas according to the following rules:
    1. a qualification in a single subject is allocated to its area.
    1. if a combination of two subjects lies within one area, the qualification is allocated to that area.
    1. if a combination of two subjects lies within more than one area, with a major or minor split, the qualification is allocated to the area relating to the major part of the study.
    1. if a combination of two subjects lies within more than one area, with an equal split, the qualification is allocated to the Combined area.

(v) all subject combinations (major or minor) containing Initial Teacher Training (ITT) are included in the Education subject area.
  1. Certain qualifications obtained at first degree level are not subject to classification of award, notably medical and general degrees. These, together with ordinary and Aegrotat classifications (whether to honours or pass) have been included within the unclassified category. Third and fourth class honours have been grouped together. Lower second and undivided second class honours have also been aggregated.

8. In the tables the Open University is treated as an English institution.

 

 

Further Enquiries

  1. For more details about any of the statistics in this Press Release, please contact

Mr Bill Stewart

Higher Education Statistics

Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment

Rathgael House, Balloo Road

BANGOR, Co. Down, BT19 7PR

Telephone (028) 9127 9389/ Fax (028) 9127 9100

e-mail: william.stewart@deni.gov.uk

The Press Release relating to Students gaining HE Qualifications : Northern Ireland 1997/98 was published by the former Department of Education Northern Ireland (DENI). Currently, HE Statistical Press Releases can be accessed at the following internet site - www.deni.gov.uk

Press enquiries should be made to the Department's Press Office at Adelaide House, 39-49 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8FD, telephone (028) 9025 7793.