Foundation degree first years up 25%

This press release looks at students studying below first degree level – termed by HESA as “other undergraduates”. Data in this press release relates to UK domiciled students only.

The number of foundation degree first year students increased by 25.2 per cent up from 13,405 in 2003/04 to 16,780 in 2004/05. This data relates to foundation degree enrolments at UK higher education institutions. It does not include data relating to students studying foundation degrees at further education colleges. Taken as a whole, foundation degree student numbers of all years of study were up 39.2 per cent to 29,260 – an increase of 8,245.

A slightly higher proportion of students are now opting to study full-time for a foundation degree. In 2004/05 53.5 per cent (15,665) students chose full-time study compared to 49.3 per cent last year. 72.2 per cent of foundation degree students were aged 21 or over, slightly down on last year’s figure of 75.3 per cent. The gender gap has narrowed slightly on last year, 66.9 per cent of foundation degree students were women in 2003/04 compared to 62.4 per cent in 2004/05.

First years studying for a HND fell by 18.2 per cent to 13,405 from 16,380. The overall HND student cohort fell by 18.6 per cent to 27,425 – a decrease of 6,255. HNC first years fell by 6.3 per cent from 9,720 to 9,105 and a fall of 6.1 per cent or 1,010 was recorded for HNC students of all years of study to 15,475.

Looking at other undergraduate students overall, including other sub-degree courses as well as foundation degrees, HNDs and HNCs, first year students fell by 0.2 per cent from 295,295 to 294,630. Students of all years of study increased by 0.8 per cent, or 4,045, from 484,150 to 488,195.

A table showing first year other undergraduate students by subject area and level of study follows at the end of this press release.

Notes to editors

Press enquiries should be directed to:

• HESA Press Officer
• 01242 211133
• [email protected]
• 95 Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1HZ.

This data does not exclude foundation degree students who are franchised out from a higher education institution to a further education institution.

• HND – Higher National Diploma
• HNC – Higher National Certificate
• Other sub-degree – examples of courses in this group include Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), foundation courses at HE level, NVQ/SVQ levels 4 and 5.

Students whose attributes are recorded as unknown have been excluded from percentage calculations. Data on students is sourced from the HESA Student Record 2003/04 and 2004/05. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5 in accordance with HESA’s standard rounding methodology.

More information on student numbers can found in the HESA publication Students in Higher Education Institutions 2004/05. See the products section of our website for more information.

Ends