University courses on computer science and artificial intelligence are showing big increases over a 10-year period in the number of student enrolments, according to a newly released statistics.
BCS – The Chartered Institute for IT and the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) have said the figures show the continued popularity of science and technology courses.
Acceptances to computer science courses went up by almost 50% from 20,420 in 2011 to 30,090 in 2020. Those for AI courses, while much lower, increased from 65 to 355.
These were accompanied by a 21% rise for engineering courses from 25,995 to 31,545.
Julia Adamson, director of education at BCS, said: “A growing and diverse pipeline of talent in computer science and AI is essential for the UK’s economic recovery and its global competitiveness. The establishment of the National Centre for Computing Education is giving more young people a positive experience of computing at school and helping to create demand for the subject at degree level and beyond.
“AI degrees will attract an ever wider range of students because this subject is vital to solving ethical challenges in every sector of the economy and society. BCS has supported universities since computing was first taught at degree level, and we’re still helping them today to embed ethical and professional good practice in machine learning and data science courses.”
Image from iStock, Eternal Creative
