RAE ratings 'link' to vulnerable departments

Evidence of a link between research ratings and course closures was included in the Higher Education Funding Council for England's report to ministers about strategically important subjects.

Hefce produced a dossier of tables showing changes in student demand and the supply of undergraduate courses between 1999 and 2004.

Tables focusing on maths, physics, chemistry and biosciences record changes in the number of undergraduates in each discipline and the number of students in departments with different research ratings.

Hefce has concluded:

* Fewer departments leads to change in student activity: more students gravitate towards departments with high research assessment exercise scores

* Departmental closure is more likely in - but not confined to - departments with a low RAE score

* International student activity has grown "significantly" in the four disciplines.

The dossier of tables includes data on A-level candidates and Universities and Colleges Admissions Service applications.

The figures show that the number of pupils sitting maths, chemistry and physics at A level dropped significantly between 1999 and 2004, but the proportion gaining A to C grades increased.

The number of A-level biology students increased slightly.

Numbers of Ucas applications have increased in maths and chemistry but decreased in physics and biosciences over the same period.

CHANGES IN STUDENT NUMBERS

% difference from 1990-00 to 2003-04

2001 RAE

Maths

Chemistry

Physics

Biosciences

At least one 5*

15

6

-4

5

At least one 5

-12

-14

10

8

At least one 4

-15

-10

8

-16

At least one 3a/3b

-46

-12

-26

-28

Rating below 3a/3b

or not submitted

-11

-48

-43

-2

OVERALL CHANGE

-11

-21

0.5

-1

                                                                                                                        

A-LEVEL PERFORMANCE IN THE SCIENCES

% difference first to last year

A levels

Maths

Chemistry

Physics

Biosciences

Total A-level candidates

-22

-15

-11

n/a

Source:Hefce