How many students have dropped out of (a) further and (b) higher education in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Data for all students undertaking further and higher education at higher education institutions and who leave before completion each year for which information is available is provided in the table:Students in Higher Education Institutions in Scotland 1994-95 to 1999-2000Leaving course and levelLeft before completion | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000
Higher education | 3,8092.6% | 5,8443.8% | 7,1604.2% | 7,8084.4% | 8,0484.4% | 7,5334.0%
Further Education | 175.9% | 6024.6% | 307.2% | 297.9% | 103.0% | 1818.3%
Source : Higher Education Statistics AgencyPerformance Indicators published annually by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council for higher education institutions in Scotland provide a projection of the numbers who start a full-time first degree course and do not obtain an award or transfer to another institution. For those starting in 1996-97 this was 17%, while in 1997-98 this was 16%.Data is not available for those undertaking further or higher education at further education colleges.