Further education student numbers increased by 2 per cent last year, the Further Education Funding Council said. According to colleges' student data, 2.4 million students were enrolled at colleges in England on November 1, 1998. The students were studying for 3.7 million qualifications, with 1 per cent on access to higher education courses, and 4 per cent studying for General National Vocational Qualifications. Just 1 per cent were studying for higher national diplomas or certificates.