H—34a

THE NUMBER OF SCIENCE GRADUATES Appendix V shows that the number of graduates in all courses rose from 531 in 1927 to 1,352 in 1947. Not only has the number of science graduates increased, but the proportion of science graduates has grown. Over the same period the percentage of bachelor science graduates in the foregoing figures increased from 10 per cent, to 16 per cent. Using index numbers (base : 1927 = 100), the greater increase in the number of science graduates can be readily seen :

Table B—Index Numbers of University Graduates, 1927 to 1947

In 1927 only 86 out of the 531 graduates in that year graduated in the science and allied groups, while in 1947, 345 of the 1,352 graduates were graduates in science and allied groups. The number of masters of science included in the above figures similarly increased. In 1927, 22 masters' degrees were conferred, and in 1947 the number was 85. The percentage of those awarded honours to the number of bachelor graduates of the previous year is shown in Table C. This table reveals no one-way trend in the percentage of honours graduates over the years 1927 to 1947, the percentages fluctuating widely from year to year. Too much emphasis should not be placed on fluctuations in particular years. For example, the 1944 figure (14*8 per cent.) is obviously due to the fact that only the most able students were allowed to proceed to a higher degree under the National Service Regulations in force during the war period. ' X

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Graduating in— 1927. 1932. 1937. 1942. 1947. Science 100 117 139 110 397 (77) Agriculture 100 500 850 300 950 (2) Home science 100 155 55 300 285 (?) Others 100 100 109 69 227 (445) Total 100 105 116 79 255 (531) (Actual number of graduates in I >ase year shown in brackets.)