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HESA Aggregate record for students studying wholly overseas 2007/08

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HESA Aggregate record for students studying wholly overseas 2007/08

Coverage of the record


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Version 1.2 Produced 2008-04-15

In parallel with introduction of the new Student Record in 2007/08, it has been agreed that a separate summary aggregate return is required in order to collect certain data relating to students studying wholly overseas.

General definition

In general, the Aggregate record for students studying wholly overseas will be collected in respect of students studying (to date) wholly outside the UK who are either registered with the reporting institution or who are studying for an award of the reporting institution.

Return of such students was previously optional within the individualised Student Record (LOCSDY, Code 7) but they must now not be included in the individualised Student Record. Instead students studying (to date) wholly outside the UK are required to be included in the Aggregate record for students studying wholly overseas. There are a small number of distance learning students studying outside the UK who are funded - e.g. Crown servants overseas and the Services. For these students a full individualised record is needed. In addition, if students studying wholly outside the UK are considered fundable under Funding Council Early Statistics rules, then they should not be included in the Aggregate record; such students should continue to be included in the individualised Student Record only. All other distance learning students studying outside the UK who are not fundable distance learning students are required to be included in the Aggregate record for students studying wholly overseas.

Courses completed in the UK

Some of these students may commence their studies outside the UK and subsequently come to continue their studies within the UK. In such cases, up until the point at which they enter the UK, these students are to be included in the Aggregate record; however, once they enter the UK to study, a full individualised record is required instead. Students who spend a sandwich, language or other year abroad as part of their overall course, which is otherwise UK based, are not to be included in the Aggregate record. For these students a full individualised record is needed for all years of the course.

Articulation arrangements

Students studying under articulation arrangements but who do not meet the criteria of being either registered with the reporting institution or studying for an award of the reporting institution are not included in the Aggregate record.

For clarification, under articulation arrangements the students are neither registered at a UK HEI nor do they receive a UK HEI award, but the UK HEI has guaranteed entry to a UK HEI course on successful completion of a programme at an overseas partner institution, where the students work for a qualification and follow a course of study that has been approved (and in some cases developed) by a UK HEI. With such arrangements the UK HEI is often seen as having a presence in the country concerned. The main reason for not collecting information on such arrangements in the new return is that it is difficult to obtain a robust definition, and also the many and varied interpretations possible of the terms likely to be used.

Consortia arrangements

In the case of consortia arrangements, involving two or more UK HEIs, only one of the institutions should include the students in making returns to HESA. This should be the institution at which the students are registered and/or which will be making the award. Where this is not clearly distinguishable, it is up to the institutions concerned to agree which one should be responsible for making the returns to HESA, and for which years of the course (or for which students on a particular year of the course), as seems most appropriate, given the particular administrative arrangements in place.

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