High Level Summary of Statistics Trend Last update: November 2011
Further Education Students at Scotland's Colleges
There were 347,336 students undertaking courses in the 43 SFC-funded colleges in Scotland in 2009-10, accounting for a total of 438,522 enrolments, individuals can enrol on more than one course.
In 2009-10, the number of FE students decreased by 33,915 from 301,692 students in 2008-09 to 267,777. However, the number of full-time students increased by 9% between 2008-09 and 2009-10, which resulted in a 1.5% increase in FE activity at colleges (as measured by SUMs). At FE level, in 2009-10, there were 47,630 full-time and 267,777 part-time students.
The main reason for the high number of part time students at FE level is that many students are also in full time jobs or have other domestic responsibilities. The majority of these types of students are frequently enrolled on programmes with a vocational orientation.
95% of all the activity programmes in Scotland's colleges led to a recognised qualification. The latest figures for 2009-10 indicate that 23,221 HE qualifications were achieved and 95,178 FE qualifications were achieved by students studying at colleges. Furthermore, 38% of enrolments by working age students in Scotland's colleges, had a direct involvement in industry and commerce in 2009-10.
In 2008-09, the most recent year for which SFC data is available, 41,243 FE students received support from bursary funds. This amounted to £67.4 million of support, which in real terms meant an increase of 8.6% compared to academic year 2007-08 (£60.4 million).
Source: Scottish Funding Council (SFC)
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