A non-exodus

The number of full-time undergraduates from Northern Ireland on courses in mainland Britain and the Republic of Ireland has not risen by 64 per cent over the past decade to 38,414 in 1999-2000 as you report (For the record, THES , October 13).

The 38,414 students represent total full-time undergraduates from Northern Ireland on higher education courses, including 25,738 students studying at the two Northern Ireland universities.

In 1999, 10,351 students from Northern Ireland entered higher education. However, there were only 7,349 higher education places available in the province, which reaffirms the university's view that there is an under-supply of higher education places here.

George Bain
Vice-chancellor
Queen's University of Belfast