Record number of students choosing STEM

According to new figures published by the Higher Education Funding Council (Hefce), more students than ever have been accepted onto STEM courses at university. In 2013/14, nearly 100,000 students were accepted onto STEM undergraduate courses, the highest level ever recorded. This represents an 8% rise on the last academic year, and an 18% rise since 2002/03. What's more, the number of students choosing STEM subjects at A-level has increased for the fifth year in a row. While total numbers of A-level entries remained flat between 2011/12 and 2012/13, the numbers of entries to STEM subjects increased by 6,000, or 2%. STEM subjects are also proving popular at postgraduate level. Full time postgraduate research entrants in STEM subjects increased by 2% to about 6,600 in 2013/2014. While the news has largely been welcomed by industry, some say the gender gap still remains a concern. Verity O'Keefe, EEF education policy adviser, said: "The overall increase in the take-up of STEM subjects disguises a mixed bag. While we welcome the fact that the number of girls studying physics has increased by 4.7% year-on-year there is still a significant gap between the number of boys taking this subject compared to girls. "We're heading in the right direction, but we need a concerted effort between government, industry and the education sector to continue driving students into STEM, but to also close this yawning gender gap." O'Keefe added that the major focus should be on overhauling careers provision so that every student – male or female - understands the impact A-level subject choices can have on their future career.