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Statistics Publication Notice

Higher Education Graduates and Diplomates in Scotland: 2001-02

A Scottish Executive National Statistics Publication

20 ^th November 2003

This document is also available in pdf format (84k)

Statistics on Higher Education Graduates and Diplomates in Scotland: 2001-02 are being released today on the Scottish Executive website. These figures provide information on higher education graduates and diplomates from Scotland's Higher Education Institutions and Further Education Colleges covering the period 1994-95 to 2001-02. These figures supersede those published by the Executive in December 2002.

The main points are:

• In 2001-02, 63,430 students successfully completed a higher education course in Scotland. Of these, 42 per cent obtained a first degree, 38 per cent obtained a sub degree qualification and 20 per cent obtained a postgraduate qualification ( Table 2).

• The share of graduates and diplomates who were female rose from 50 per cent in 1994-95 to 57 per cent in 2001-02. Females constituted the majority of graduates at all three main levels of qualification in 2001-02 ( Table 2).

• Although more than half of all postgraduate and sub degree graduates and diplomates were aged 25 and over in 2001-02, 73 per cent of first degree graduates were in the 21-25 year old age group which is most traditionally associated with first degree graduation ( Table 3).

• 22 per cent of graduates and diplomates in 2001-02 studied business administration. In terms of subject area the next highest shares were in social studies (11 per cent) and allied to medicine (10 per cent) ( Table 4).

• The percentage of first degree graduates who obtained a first class honours degree was 8% in 2001-02. This is the same share as in 1994-95. In terms of second class honours degrees the share in 2001-02 was 55 per cent compared to 58 per cent in 1994-95 ( Table 6).

The following tables are available on the Scottish Executive Statistics Website: www.scotland.gov.uk/about/ASD/ELL-EAS6/00017875/page830054467.aspx

Table 1 - Graduates and diplomates from higher education courses in Scotland by type of institution: 1994-95 to 2001-02

Table 2- Graduates and diplomates from higher education courses in Scotland by qualification achieved and sex: 1994-95 to 2001-02

Table 3 - Graduates and diplomates from higher education courses in Scotland by qualification achieved, gender and age group: 2001-02

Table 4 - Graduates and diplomates from higher education courses in Scotland by subject of study: 1994-95 to 2001-02

Table 5 - Graduates and diplomates from higher education courses in Scotland by subject, level of qualification obtained and gender: 2001-02

Table 6- Examination results of graduates from first degree courses in Scotland: 1994-95 to 2001-02

Annex - Statistical Notes

NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS

2. The figures in this publication are based on data collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) from Higher Education Institutions, and the Scottish Further Education Funding Council (SFEFC) from Further Education Colleges, through the Examination Results & First Destination (FDG) survey. Prior to 1 July 1999, data collection from the Further Education Colleges was undertaken by the (former) Scottish Office Education and Industry Department.
4. This publication contains information on students, from both Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Further Education Colleges (FECs), who successfully completed a higher education course in Scotland in the years covered. Higher education courses are defined as those at HNC/HND level and above. Information on the Open University in Scotland is not included in this news release.
6. Previous editions of this publication have not included information on part-time graduates and diplomates from Further Education Colleges. This omission has been rectified for all years covered in this year's edition of this publication which supersedes editions for previous years.
8. Data on HE graduates and diplomates from FECs are collected by SFEFC. In each of the past two years SFEFC has changed the methodology used to identify graduates and diplomates. The result of this has been a reduction in the reported number of graduates and diplomates from FECs and an increase in the number of continuing students. It is not yet possible to precisely estimate the effect of this change on data for previous years. In the meantime figures for graduates and diplomates from FECs for years before 2000-01 should be regarded as indicative of trends in that period.
10. 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.

This news release, together with associated tables listed above, is published on The Scottish Executive web-site at www.scotland.gov.uk/about/ASD/ELL-EAS6/00017875/page830054467.aspx 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:

Hugh McAloon
Scottish Executive

Enterprise Transport & Lifelong Learning Department
Analytical Services Division
3 ^rd Floor, Meridian Court
5 Cadogan Street
Glasgow, G2 6AT

Tel. (0141) 242 5605
Fax. (0141) 242 5455
E-mail.fhestatistics@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

For media enquiries please contact:

Matthew Marr
Scottish Executive
Media & Communications Group

Tel. (0131) 244 2682

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