Lib Dem warns of lecturer shortage

A slump in the numbers of graduates opting to study for doctorates could lead to a shortage of lecturers in future years, according to the Liberal Democrats. Phil Willis (pictured), the party's further and higher education spokesman, revealed a 13 per cent drop in the number of British PhD students over the past five years. This included a 62 per cent fall in the numbers of engineering and technology PhDs and a 61 per cent drop in humanities. At the same time the numbers of overseas PhD students in the United Kingdom had increased by 35 per cent.