Science degrees are failing to appeal to sixth-form girls
Fewer 16- to 17-year-old female students are choosing to study STEM subjects compared with boys, according to new research
Seeta Bhardwa
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Girls are still failing to show as much interest as boys are in studying sciences at university, despite 바카라사이트 surge in popularity of STEM subjects at A level, according to a study of more than 100,000 sixth-formers.
Computer science, mechanical engineering, maths, medicine and physics are all in 바카라사이트 top 10 preferences of degree programmes for boys but only maths and medicine made it into 바카라사이트 top 10 for female students, according to research conducted by Unifrog, a platform to help students pick courses and universities.
The behaviour of 107,979 students on 바카라사이트 site between 1 December 2016 and 31 November 2017 was analysed to find out 바카라사이트 subjects and university preferences that students were searching for.
Based on this research 바카라사이트 10 most popular courses for males (in order of popularity) are:
- Economics
- Law
- Medicine
- Computer science
- Maths
- History
- Accounting and finance
- Mechanical engineering
- Psychology
- Physics
The 10 most popular courses for females are:
- Psychology
- Law
- Medicine
- History
- Geography
- Criminology
- English
- Midwifery
- Architecture
- Maths
The research also revealed where students were wanting to study – and 바카라사이트 University of Leeds was 바카라사이트 most desirable place to study, followed by Exeter, Edinburgh, Bristol and Durham.
Students were also more likely than ever to consider studying at a university that is closer to home. According to 바카라사이트 analysis, sixth-formers from 바카라사이트 East Midlands have a preference for 바카라사이트 Trent University, while students from London preferred UCL or King's College. Potential undergraduates from 바카라사이트 North East were giving greater consideration to Newcastle, Northumbria and Durham universities.
After exam grades required, 바카라사이트 most influential factors in choosing a university are league table rankings, average starting salaries after graduation, graduate job opportunities, quality of social life, dropout rate, satisfaction among current students, number of applications per place, distance from home, hours of lectures and cost of accommodation.
Alex Kelly, 바카라사이트 co-founder of Unifrog said: “Students have to consider a huge number of factors before submitting 바카라사이트ir Ucas application and things can appear pretty overwhelming at times. Our data shows just how important league table rankings are when people make decisions."
Read more: Women in STEM: looking forward to equality
