Scottish Government

Notes to News Editors

1. The Scottish Age Participation Index ( API) for a given year is defined as the number of young Scots aged under 21 who enter a full-time HE course for the first time in that year taken as a percentage of the population of 17 year olds at 31 December in the same year. In simple terms it is an estimate of the share of 17 year olds in the population who, can be expected to enter HE for the first time before their 21 ^st birthday , if current trends continue.
2. The data used to calculate the Age Participation Index ( API) for Scotland are collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency ( HESA) from Higher Education Institutions ( HEIs) and by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council ( SFEFC) from Further Education Colleges ( FECs).
3. There is a break in data for both HEIs and FECs in 1994-95, due to a significant revision to the surveys underpinning both sets of estimates. Comparison of data spanning 1994-95 should be considered indicative.
4. A one percent change in the overall API would correspond to a change of around 660 in the number of young student entrants (based on current estimates for the population of 17 year olds in Scotland).
5. This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards as 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.
6. These tables are published on the Scottish Executive web-site www.scotland.gov.uk.

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