AQW 2962/11-15 Mr Jim Allister KC Traditional Unionist Voice North Antrim
Tabled Date: 06/10/2011 Answered On Date: 13/10/2011 Priority Written: No
Question: To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning how many students from (a) a Roman Catholic and (b) a Protestant background have (i) applied for a place at; and (ii) enrolled at (a) Queen's University; (b) the University of Ulster, broken down by each campus; (iii) St Mary's University College; and (iv) Stranmillis University College in each of the last five years.
Answer:
The Department does not hold information on the religion of applicants to university and nor is it collected by Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). The Department does however hold information on the religion of Northern Ireland (NI) domiciled students enrolled at the NI Higher Education Institutions. Therefore, the number of NI domiciled students from a Catholic and a Protestant background enrolled at Queen's University; the University of Ulster, broken down by each campus; St Mary's University College; and Stranmillis University College in each of the last five years is detailed in the tables below. (a)Catholic background | 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | The Queen’s University of Belfast | 8,565 | 7,920 | 8,245 | 8,265 | 8,710 | University of Ulster, Belfast | 525 | 495 | 545 | 540 | 660 | University of Ulster, Coleraine | 1,950 | 1,860 | 1,760 | 1,570 | 1,655 | University of Ulster, Jordanstown | 6,900 | 6,405 | 6,105 | 5,995 | 6,640 | University of Ulster, Magee | 2,395 | 2,230 | 2,090 | 1,905 | 2,115 | Stranmillis University College | 195 | 185 | 160 | 195 | 280 | St Mary’s University College | 950 | 965 | 910 | 905 | 935 |
(b)Protestant background | 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | The Queen’s University of Belfast | 7,360 | 6,510 | 6,735 | 6,600 | 6,740 | University of Ulster, Belfast | 500 | 475 | 450 | 465 | 540 | University of Ulster, Coleraine | 2,200 | 2,145 | 2,110 | 1,940 | 2,040 | University of Ulster, Jordanstown | 4,670 | 4,000 | 3,685 | 3,430 | 3,850 | University of Ulster, Magee | 590 | 530 | 530 | 475 | 590 | Stranmillis University College | 960 | 915 | 680 | 655 | 645 | St Mary’s University College | 20 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 5 |
Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency Notes: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5. The latest available data are for 2009/10. Information on religion is only collected for NI domiciled students studying at NI Higher Education Institutions and therefore the above tables do not include students from outside NI. Religious affiliation is not a mandatory question and therefore can have a high non-response rate. As well as Catholic and Protestant, the religion of students can also be classified as “Other” or “Not known/available”. These two categories accounted for between 18-21% of Northern Ireland domiciled students enrolled at NI Higher Education Institutions between 2005/06 and 2009/10.
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