Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to encourage students to study STEM subjects at university.

The department is investing an additional £750 million over the next three years to support high-quality teaching and facilities including in science and engineering. This includes the largest increase in government funding for the higher education sector in over a decade and will support students and teaching.

Twelve Institutes of Technology have already been established, with a further nine announced in December 2021. Institutes of Technology are designed to be prestigious, high-quality education providers created through innovative collaborations between further education colleges, universities, and employers. They provide higher technical education and training in key science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sectors, such as digital, construction, advanced manufacturing, and engineering.

There are also over 350 apprenticeship standards available in STEM, many of which are at degree level and delivered by universities, such as civil and manufacturing engineering apprenticeships. These offer another way for people to study STEM subjects at university whilst also earning a salary with a STEM employer.