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Statistics Release
Higher Education Graduates and Diplomates in Scotland: 2000-01
20 December 2002

A SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE NATIONAL STATISTICS PUBLICATION

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Statistics on higher education graduates and diplomates in Scotland in 2000-01 are published today by the Scottish Executive Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department.

This news release updates the Statistical News Release, Higher Education Graduates and Diplomates in Scotland: 1999-00, published in December 2001.

Due to an improvement in data quality, the information for 2000-01 is not fully comparable with previous years. It is likely that the number of final year HE group award qualifications achieved, in relation to higher education students in Further Education Colleges, was overstated in the period before 2000-01, with an equivalent understatement of students continuing to study. At this stage it is not possible to precisely calculate the effect of this change on data for previous years. Exploratory work on estimating these effects will be carried out in 2003 when more information becomes available. In the meantime comparison between 2000-01 data and that for earlier years should be regarded with caution.

The main findings are

• In 2000-01, 55,444 students successfully completed a higher education course in Scotland.
• There were 23,793 (43 per cent) male and 31,651 (57 per cent) female graduates and diplomates in 2000-01. In 1999-00 the relative shares were 44 per cent male graduates and 56 per cent female graduates.
• Business Administration continued to be the most popular subject for graduates and diplomates in 2000-01 followed by Social Studies and Allied to Medicine.
• The percentage of first degree graduates who obtained a first class honours degree increased by 1 percentage point to 8% for 2000-01. This figure has remained consistent at around 7 per cent since 1995/96.

The following table are available on the Scottish Executive Statistics Website:www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/educ.htm

Table 1 - Graduates and diplomates from higher education courses by qualification achieved and sex: 1990-91 to 2000-01
Chart 1 - HE Graduates and diplomates in Scotland by gender: 1990-91 to 2000-01
Table 2 - Graduates and diplomates from higher education courses by qualification achieved and sex, and the percentage of the total by age group: 2000-01
Table 3 - Graduates and diplomates from higher education courses by subject of study and year: 1995-96 to 2000-01
Table 4 - Graduates and diplomates from higher education courses by subject, level of qualification obtained and sex: 2000-01
Chart 2 - HE Graduates and diplomates in Scotland by subject of study and gender: 2000-01
Table 5 - Examination results of first degree graduates: 1990-91 to 2000-01
Annex - Statistical Notes

NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS

1. The figures in this press release are based on data collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency from Higher Education Institutions, and the Scottish Further Education Funding Council from Further Education Institutions, through the Examination Results & First Destination (FDG) survey. Prior to 1 July 1999, data collection from the Further Education Institutions was undertaken by the (former) Scottish Office Education and Industry Department.

2. This news release contains information on students, from both Higher Education Institutions and Further Education Institutions, who successfully completed a higher education course in Scotland. Higher education courses are defined as those at HNC/HND level and above.

3. There is a discontinuity of data collection from 1994-95, with the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) assuming responsibility for the collection of information on students and staff at higher education institutions. In 1996-97 Nursing students were absorbed into the Higher Education Institution sector, and counted in returns for the first time in that year.

4. Data relating to the higher education institutions is collected for both full-time and part-time students. Data in this news release relating to the further education institutions is for full-time students only. Information on the Open University in Scotland is excluded from this news release.

5. This release gives data for a number of years to allow trends to be identified more easily. In doing this, subject data has been reclassified, and so may no longer agree with previously published data. Where this is the case, this news release should be assumed to supersede any previous publications.

6. Due to an improvement in data quality, the information for 2000-01 is not fully comparable with previous years. It is likely that the number of final year HE group award qualifications achieved, in relation to higher education students in Further Education Colleges, was overstated in the period before 2000-01, with an equivalent understatement of students continuing to study. At this stage it is not possible to precisely calculate the effect of this change on data for previous years. Exploratory work on estimating these effects will be carried out in 2003 when more information becomes available. In the meantime comparison between 2000-01 and that for earlier years should be regarded with caution.

7. This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

8. This news release, together with associated tables listed above, is published on The Scottish Executive web-site www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/educ.htm Further background information on coverage and definitions can be found in an associated annex, also available on the web-site.

For further information (non-media), enquiries and comments on this news release, please contact:

Kirsty MacLean
Scottish Executive
Further & Higher Education Statistics
3 ^rd Floor, Meridian Court
5 Cadogan Street
Glasgow, G2 6AT
Tel. (0141) 242 0270
Fax. (0141) 242 5579
E-mailfhestatistics@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

For media enquiries please contact:
Sue Monk, Information Directorate, Scottish Executive. Tel. 0131 244 2625
Internet:www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/educ.htm

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