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The number of computing and information science students at Scottish higher education institutions has risen by 9 per cent this year compared with 1998-99.

This is the biggest rise in any subject area, according to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council's provisional figures for full-time equivalent students. The next highest increase is about 5 per cent for education and "other health and welfare" courses. Student numbers overall rose by about 0.5 per cent to more than 121,000.

The largest fall is 2.8 per cent, in built environment courses. There is a drop of more than 1 per cent in engineering and technology, science, and catering and hospitality management.