IT degree figures rise

13:27 1st September 2008

The number of students undertaking IT at degree level increased marginally in 2008, new UCAS figures have revealed.

The university admissions organisation disclosed that around 8,000 students chose to study computer science at degree level in 2008, a rise of 3.9 per cent from last year.

However, the number of accepted admissions for mathematics - a historically unpopular choice for students - rose by more than seven per cent to 5,681, while law leads the table with 14,528.

Robert Chapman, chief executive of an IT training provider, suggested that these figures highlighted the IT industry’s skills problem.

He said: "I struggle to believe that what is being taught [in schools and universities] is putting people off. IT needs to do a better job of advertising itself – there are some wonderfully creative roles there. "

Last week, the government published a report titled Innovation in Services, in a bid to encourage UK businesses to be more creative in IT.

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