PIs 2005/06: Module completion rates

Progression rates of part-time students are not as straightforward to define as those of full-time students. Although we can tell when a part-time student has completed a course if they obtain a qualification, it is difficult to tell when such a student has not completed a course and does not intend to finish it. Table T6 looks at completion rates of part-time students by considering the number of modules which have been passed.

When institutions return their data to HESA, they can do so in one of two ways: ‘combined’ or ‘modular’. The reason for using one method rather than the other is largely technical and most institutions are free to make their own decision. The modular format provides not just details of students and their courses, but also details of the modules they are taking as part of the course. This method must be used by all Welsh HEIs and it is also used by about a third of other HEIs, for at least some of their students. Results, other than final qualifications, are only available where institutions make modular returns. If institutions make modular returns to HESA, it is possible to obtain information about the numbers passing individual modules.

Table T6 is restricted to part-time undergraduate students domiciled in the UK and produced for Welsh institutions only (those institutions funded by HEFCW) for which we have modular data available. It provides the number of students and the number of modules for which some information is available, the number of modules for which results are available and the pass rates for those modules with results. This final value is taken as the indicator. This table provides information about the pass rates of part-time students at Welsh institutions in 2005/06.

The first column of the table shows the total number of part-time undergraduate students at the institution. This is followed by the number of ‘student modules’ for which we have information. If a student is registered on three modules, for example, there would be records for three student modules. The average number of modules per student for each institution is shown in the column headed 'Module per student'. The final column shows the percentage of full-time equivalent (FTE) students per module.

The 'Modules with results (%)' column gives the percentage of ‘student modules’ for which results are available and the 'Modules passed (%)' column gives the percentage of these which are passed. If results are available for only a small proportion of modules, the pass rate should be treated with caution.

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