Women outdo men in degree results

Women are improving quicker than men

A record number of students gained first-class degrees last year, with women opening up their lead on men.

The Higher Education Statistics Agency found 28,300 firsts had been awarded, an increase of 2,200 on 2002.

Of these, 15,100, or 53%, went to women, a 0.5 percentage points rise. Meanwhile, 48% of women got an upper- second-class degree, and 40% of men.

Critics say degrees are getting easier, but the government denied any "dumbing down" had taken place.

'Doom-mongers'

Higher Education Minister Alan Johnson said: "These figures are good news for universities, who are successfully expanding and students who are achieving better results.

"They contradict the doom-mongers."

The number of people taking a degree for the first time was 273,400 in 2002-3, compared with 267,100 the previous year.

Some 85,400 candidates, or 31%, got lower-seconds, while 13,200, or 5%, took a third-class degree.

Finally, 24,600, or 9%, were awarded an ungraded pass.

The number of other undergraduate qualifications - such as teaching certificates - awarded was 94,400, an increase of 14%.

Government opponents, including the Conservative Party, have criticised plans to increase higher education to involve 50% of people under the age of 30 by 2010.

But Mr Johnson said: "The faster expansion of qualifiers in vocational subjects proves that this government is successfully expanding in tune with the needs of the economy and not expanding for expansion's sake.

"We have always said that expansion will mainly be in vocational higher education courses and foundation degrees and these figures show that to be the case."