2004Highest ever number of students graduate 43% of those were in science

The number of science graduates increased by one percentage point last year to a total of 220,000 - 48% of them women.

Guardian Unlimited

Highest number of students graduate in 2004Guardian Unlimited

An unprecedented 540,000 qualifications were awarded by universities last year and 43% of those were in science, new government figures revealed today. The number of science graduates increased by one percentage point last year to a total of 220,000 - 48% of them women.

The figures revealed that last year 35,000 students took biology degrees - almost twice the number than those opting to do physics and chemistry together, a total of 18,000.

The figures come in the wake of several high-profile closures of university science departments blamed partly on falling student numbers.

At the end of last year a row erupted over the future of the "hard" science in British universities after a spate of high-profile closures of physics and chemistry departments. The then-secretary of state Charles Clarke ordered a review of five key subjects areas of "national strategic importance", including the sciences.

Highest number of students graduate in 2004Guardian Unlimited

An unprecedented 540,000 qualifications were awarded by universities last year and 43% of those were in science, new government figures revealed today. The number of science graduates increased by one percentage point last year to a total of 220,000 - 48% of them women. The figures come in the wake of several high-profile closures of university science departments blamed partly on falling student numbers.

At the end of last year a row erupted over the future of the "hard" science in British universities after a spate of high-profile closures of physics and chemistry departments. The then-secretary of state Charles Clarke ordered a review of five key subjects areas of "national strategic importance", including the sciences.

However, Peter Cotgreave, the director of the campaign group Save British Science, said how good the news was depended on what science subjects those graduates were doing. "The headline figure is good news but it depends what subjects those graduates are doing and what they go on to do when they graduate." The figures revealed that last year 35,000 students took biology degrees - almost twice the number than those opting to do physics and chemistry together, a total of 18,000.

Highest number of students graduate in 2004Guardian Unlimited

An unprecedented 540,000 qualifications were awarded by universities last year and 43% of those were in science, new government figures revealed today. The number of science graduates increased by one percentage point last year to a total of 220,000 - 48% of them women. The figures come in the wake of several high-profile closures of university science departments blamed partly on falling student numbers. The annual statistical release of provisional figures for all graduates from UK universities, compiled by the Higher Education Statistical Agency, also shows that the numbers being awarded a first or a 2:1, the two highest marks for a degree, has soared over the past four years. Of the 283,000 undergraduate degrees awarded last year, nearly 30,000 were classed a first and 125,500 as a 2:1. In 2000 those figures were 21,800 and 113,700 respectively. The total number of first degree graduates in 2003-04 was 282,100, an increase from the previous year's figure of 273,400. A spokesperson for the Department for Education and Skills welcomed the figures, saying: "Science is a subject of strategic national importance and it is encouraging that more students, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, are graduating in science subjects. "The government is committed to science and research and by 2007-08 we will be spending over £5bn in this area. " However, Peter Cotgreave, the director of the campaign group Save British Science, said how good the news was depended on what science subjects those graduates were doing. "The headline figure is good news but it depends what subjects those graduates are doing and what they go on to do when they graduate." The figures revealed that last year 35,000 students took biology degrees - almost twice the number than those opting to do physics and chemistry together, a total of 18,000. At the end of last year a row erupted over the future of the "hard" science in British universities after a spate of high-profile closures of physics and chemistry departments. The then-secretary of state Charles Clarke ordered a review of five key subjects areas of "national strategic importance", including the sciences. Some 156,800 students were awarded postgraduate qualifications last year. Of these, 26,700 (17%) were awarded a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) for teacher training, 14,100 (9%) completed their studies mainly by research, and a further 115,900 (74%) obtained qualifications after following taught postgraduate courses other than PGCE. However, separate research from the Higher Education Funding Council for England today revealed that nearly three out of 10 full-time PhD students had not completed their doctorates seven years after starting their studies. A total of 38,300 undergraduate and 53,300 postgraduate students obtaining qualifications in 2003-04 came from overseas. Overseas students accounted for 17% of all students awarded HE qualifications in 2003-04. A spokesperson for Universities UK, the umbrella group for vice-chancellors, said: "It is extremely encouraging to see the numbers of UK higher education students graduating through hard work and commitment to their studies. The statistics also show further evidence of the excellent world-class performance of the UK higher education sector. "In addition the encouraging number of overseas undergraduate and postgraduate students obtaining HE qualifications is further proof of UK universities' reputation for quality, exceptional professional support services for students, and high quality and diversity of courses available." However, Hannah Essex, the vice-president of the National Union of Students, said that the results were particularly good considering that "increasing pressures of financial hardship" were pushing so many students to take part-time jobs. She added: "While these [statistics] show an increase in degree completion generally, it does not show the completion rates for different groups of students, such as students with disabilities and those from non-traditional backgrounds who may need additional support in order to complete their course of study."

Highest number of students graduate in 2004

Polly Curtis, education correspondentTuesday January 11, 2005

Guardian Unlimited

An unprecedented 540,000 qualifications were awarded by universities last year and 43% of those were in science, new government figures revealed today. The number of science graduates increased by one percentage point last year to a total of 220,000 - 48% of them women. The figures come in the wake of several high-profile closures of university science

departments blamed partly on falling student numbers. The annual statistical release of provisional figures for all graduates from UK universities, compiled by the Higher Education Statistical Agency, also shows that the numbers being

awarded a first or a 2:1, the two highest marks for a degree, has soared over the past four years.

Of the 283,000 undergraduate degrees awarded last year, nearly 30,000 were classed a first and 125,500 as a 2:1. In 2000 those figures were 21,800 and 113,700 respectively. The total number of first degree graduates in 2003-04 was 282,100, an increase from the

previous year's figure of 273,400. A spokesperson for the Department for Education and Skills welcomed the figures, saying:

"Science is a subject of strategic national importance and it is encouraging that more students, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, are graduating in science

subjects. "The government is committed to science and research and by 2007-08 we will be

spending over £5bn in this area. " However, Peter Cotgreave, the director of the campaign group Save British Science, said how good the news was depended on what science subjects those graduates were doing. "The headline figure is good news but it depends what subjects those graduates are doing

and what they go on to do when they graduate." The figures revealed that last year 35,000 students took biology degrees - almost twice the

number than those opting to do physics and chemistry together, a total of 18,000. At the end of last year a row erupted over the future of the "hard" science in British

universities after a spate of high-profile closures of physics and chemistry departments. The then-secretary of state Charles Clarke ordered a review of five key subjects areas of

"national strategic importance", including the sciences. Some 156,800 students were awarded postgraduate qualifications last year. Of these,

26,700 (17%) were awarded a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) for teacher training, 14,100 (9%) completed their studies mainly by research, and a further 115,900

(74%) obtained qualifications after following taught postgraduate courses other than PGCE. However, separate research from the Higher Education Funding Council for England today

revealed that nearly three out of 10 full-time PhD students had not completed their doctorates seven years after starting their studies.

A total of 38,300 undergraduate and 53,300 postgraduate students obtaining qualifications in 2003-04 came from overseas. Overseas students accounted for 17% of all students

awarded HE qualifications in 2003-04. A spokesperson for Universities UK, the umbrella group for vice-chancellors, said: "It is extremely encouraging to see the numbers of UK higher education students graduating

through hard work and commitment to their studies. The statistics also show further evidence of the excellent world-class performance of the UK higher education sector.

"In addition the encouraging number of overseas undergraduate and postgraduate students obtaining HE qualifications is further proof of UK universities' reputation for quality,

exceptional professional support services for students, and high quality and diversity of courses available."

However, Hannah Essex, the vice-president of the National Union of Students, said that the results were particularly good considering that "increasing pressures of financial hardship"

were pushing so many students to take part-time jobs. She added: "While these [statistics] show an increase in degree completion generally, it

does not show the completion rates for different groups of students, such as students with disabilities and those from non-traditional backgrounds who may need additional support in

order to complete their course of study."