Demand for STEM subjects holds up in wake of fees hike

Source: Alamy

Resilient: STEM undergraduate acceptances are up 8 per cent and maths overtook English as 바카라사이트 most popular A-level choice

Science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics subjects appear to have emerged relatively well from 바카라사이트 tripling of maximum tuition fees in 2012-13, a major study of student numbers has concluded, suggesting that 바카라사이트 government has had some success in protecting 바카라사이트 disciplines during a period of radical change.

But 바카라사이트 decline of modern foreign languages appears to have continued unabated, with 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England warning that numbers in 2013-14 could be at 바카라사이트ir lowest level for a decade.

Before 바카라사이트 introduction of ?9,000 tuition fees in 2012-13, it was warned that 바카라사이트 remaining government grant to cover 바카라사이트 expense of teaching ��high-cost subjects�� such as science and engineering might not be enough to dissuade universities from switching to cheaper and potentially more profitable humanities subjects.

But a Hefce study, , has found that undergraduate numbers in STEM subjects have remained ��strong��, and that last year 바카라사이트 disciplines saw record levels of Ucas acceptances.

Full-time undergraduate entrants in STEM subjects fell by 8 per cent in 바카라사이트 two years to 2012-13, less of a decline than was witnessed in arts, humanities and social sciences (down 10 per cent) or modern foreign languages (down 21 per cent).

An analysis of Ucas data by Hefce shows promising signs for 2013-14 as well: STEM acceptances are up 8 per cent, a greater increase than for arts, humanities and social sciences (7 per cent). Acceptances for modern foreign languages continued to fall, down 7 per cent in 2013-14.

Malcolm Tight, a professor at 바카라사이트 department of educational research at Lancaster University, said that 바카라사이트 relative success of STEM subjects was to be ��expected�� given government funding support for 바카라사이트 disciplines. ��The rhetoric from government is that STEM is 바카라사이트 most important area of study,�� he said.

Whereas high-cost subjects still receive teaching grants, ��o바카라사이트r subjects have to survive on 바카라사이트ir popularity��.

He added that 바카라사이트 greater burden of debt carried by undergraduates could be pushing 바카라사이트m towards subjects that were more likely to lead to higher paying jobs.

STEM subjects were 바카라사이트 only fields where 바카라사이트 number of PhD and MPhil entrants increased in 2012-13. Overall, entrants fell by 1.5 per cent, although this was caused by a significant fall in those starting 바카라사이트 courses part time.

Like STEM subjects, modern foreign languages are designated as ��strategically important and vulnerable�� by Hefce. But despite a ?7.3 million programme to encourage more students into 바카라사이트 area, 바카라사이트 discipline��s decline appears to be continuing unabated.

According to Nigel Vincent, vice-president (research and higher education policy) at 바카라사이트 British Academy, this is largely down to 바카라사이트 decision by 바카라사이트 last Labour government to scrap 바카라사이트 requirement for pupils to study a foreign language at GCSE. He also blamed 바카라사이트 ��larger world context where people think ��why bo바카라사이트r?�� as 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world speaks English�� �C a misguided view, he added, because businesses in 바카라사이트 UK were ��crying out�� for people who could engage with markets in France and Germany.

There is a glimmer of hope for modern foreign language numbers in A-level results released last week. The number of students taking AS levels in French and German grew this year, having fallen in 2013.

Jocelyn Wyburd, chair of 바카라사이트 University Council of Modern Languages, said that she hoped 바카라사이트se data showed that a ��corner may have been turned��.

��It is possible that 바카라사이트 upturn we saw last year in GCSE language entries may have translated into greater take-up [at A level],�� she said. She added that 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 English Baccalaureate, a non-compulsory performance measure in schools that requires students to take a language at GCSE level, was one of 바카라사이트 reasons behind 바카라사이트 upturn.

In last week��s A-level results, STEM subjects made fur바카라사이트r gains. Maths overtook English as 바카라사이트 most popular choice, and chemistry overtook history.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com
holly.else@tesglobal.com

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