The number of physics, chemistry and maths undergraduates in English universities and colleges rose by almost 7% between 2005 and 2008 to 47,269, according to a report published on 11 March by the Higher Education Funding Council of England. The increase comes in the wake of a 2005 government initiative to boost enrolment in science, technology, engineering and maths, according to the Strategically Important and Vulnerable Subjects (http://go.nature.com/2G8iZF) report. The initiative included more funding to train science instructors, doubling the number of science and engineering school clubs and establishing a National Science Competition to showcase student achievements.