More students than ever have been accepted on to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) courses, according to new figures published by the Higher Education Funding Council (Hefce).
In 2013-14, 98,000 students were accepted on to Stem undergraduate courses, the highest level ever recorded.
This is an 8% rise on last academic year, and an 18% rise since 2002-03.
Acceptances on to engineering and technology courses "bounced back" by 6% after a decline, returning to the peak levels of 2010-11. Acceptances to computer science courses increased by 12% compared with the previous year, and are now at their highest point since 2003-04.
In addition to the numbers of students accepted on to courses, Hefce also looks at the figures for those applying. It finds applications for Stem courses are similarly buoyant. The biggest increase in applications has been in computer sciences, at 13%, but applications in engineering and technology also rose by 11% compared to the previous cycle.
Yvonne Baker, director of the National Science Learning Centre, which is run by a consortium of universities and provides continuing professional development (CPD) for science teachers, welcomes the news: "This shows that students are taking seriously the messages about high-value qualifications and also that the emphasis put on supporting Stem by employers, charities and government through initiatives like Project Enthuse, which supports teacher CPD, is having real impact."
Baker adds that the drive to get more students taking triple science at GCSE has probably had a knock-on effect in encouraging students to take science at A-level and then at university.
An increase in the numbers of students studying Stem subjects at A-level suggests that there may be further growth in future higher education figures. The report says that while total numbers of A-level entries remained flat between 2011-12 and 2012-13, the numbers of entries to Stem subjects increased by 6,000, or 2%.
Applications for places on some Stem courses are becoming increasingly competitive. The total number of UK-domiciled applicants to physics in 2013-14 was 18% higher than those who ultimately accepted a place, whereas in 2003-04 applicant numbers were only 6% higher than acceptances. There was a similar pattern in mathematical sciences and chemistry, the report says.
Stem subjects also proved popular at postgraduate level. Full-time postgraduate research entrants in Stem subjects increased by 2% to about 6,600, a growth driven by students from EU countries other than the UK.
Baker says the challenge now is to sustain the upward trend and in particular to encourage more girls to pursue engineering and computer science.
"It's an area where we continue to lag behind other countries," she says. "We need to focus on how we encourage more girls to understand that engineering and computer science are for girls as well as boys. Part of that is getting girls in physics. At GCSE they do better than boys. They need to be able to see themselves as the sort of person who does physics."
Join the Higher Education Network for more comment, analysis and job opportunities, direct to your inbox. Follow us on Twitter @gdnhighered.
