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Introduction - Students 2003/04

This publication is one of four reference volumes published annually by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). HESA is a company limited by guarantee, and is owned by the United Kingdom (UK) higher education sector through the representative bodies Universities UK and the Standing Conference of Principals. HESA collects data from publicly-funded higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UK on behalf of funding bodies and government departments, in a framework underpinned by legislation.

This volume draws on HESA's collection of data about students in HEIs during the academic year 2003/04, that is, the period 1 August 2003 to 31 July 2004. It covers data supplied by 169 HEIs (132 in England, 13 in Wales, 20 in Scotland, 4 in Northern Ireland). The data collection procedure is uniform across all institutions, regardless of size, nature, and location; the range of data fields collected is administration-dependent to a limited extent. HESA does not collect data from further education colleges (FECs). Data on HE provision in FECs is accordingly not included in this volume except for students funded indirectly through HEIs, in which case it is reported by the HEI through which funding passes.

The other reference volumes published by HESA are as follows.

Resources of Higher Education Institutions. This volume brings together information about the finances and the staff of HEIs. Tabulations are included which record and analyse income and expenditure, and the characteristics of staff, at the institutional level.

Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education. This volume draws on the recently introduced Destinations of Leavers from HE (DLHE) survey, the successor to the First Destinations Supplement (FDS), and provides information about patterns of employment and further study or training at a point about six months after completion. DLHE covers leavers from part-time as well as full-time courses, a major extension relative to FDS.

Higher Education Statistics for the United Kingdom. This is the only HESA reference volume that currently falls within the National Statistics framework, and it accordingly carries the National Statistics logo as well as that of HESA. It provides an overview of higher education in the UK from a statistical perspective, including statistics about applications, participation, institutional finance, staffing, student awards, and loans. To achieve this broad coverage, this volume draws on data collected by other bodies as well as HESA, and in particular includes some information about directly funded HE provision in FECs.

HESA also publishes annually two Statistical First Releases within the National Statistics framework; the Higher Education Management Statistics at sector and (on CD) institutional level; detailed data for institutional planning purposes on CD (HE Planning Plus and HE Finance Plus); and occasional Research Datapacks. The HESA Information Provision Service exists to meet more specialist needs of data users on a bespoke basis.

Data protection

Due to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998, HESA implements a strategy in published and released tabulations designed to prevent the disclosure of personal information about any individual. These tabulations are derived from the HESA non-statutory populations and may differ slightly from those published by related statutory bodies. This strategy involves rounding all numbers to the nearest 5. A summary of this strategy is as follows:

  • 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0
  • All other numbers are rounded to the nearest 5.

So for example 3 is represented as 5, 22 is represented as 20, 3286 is represented as 3285 while 0, 20, 55, 3510 remain unchanged.

This rounding strategy is also applied to total figures; the consequence of which is that the sum of numbers in each row or column will rarely match the total shown precisely. Note that subject level data calculated by apportionment will also be rounded in accordance with this strategy.

Average values, proportions and FTE values prepared by HESA will not be affected by the above strategy, and will be calculated on precise raw numbers. However, percentages calculated on populations which contain 52 or fewer individuals will be suppressed and represented as '..' as will averages based on populations of 7 or fewer.

Format of publications

Commencing with the 2002/03 cycle of publications, HESA reference volumes now comprise a relatively slim printed volume containing only a limited range of tables, together with a CD, which contains all the remaining data familiar to users from earlier years, supplemented with additional and more detailed tables. The tables on the CD are offered in Microsoft® Excel 2000 format. This has the further benefit of allowing users to select data from the tables and manipulate how it is displayed. However, arithmetical manipulations should be carried out with caution because of the effect of the rounding strategy described above.

Students in UK higher education institutions, 2003/04

This commentary draws attention to some of the headline figures and key points which emerge from the main tables. The information is displayed graphically where appropriate. Where figures for previous years are quoted for comparison, they are taken from the 2002/03 and 2001/02 editions of this volume.

Summary of key points

2,247,440 students were recorded as following an HE programme leading to a qualification or credit at a publicly-funded UK higher education institution in 2003/04 (2,175,115 in 2002/03; 2,086,075 in 2001/02). This total includes both full-time and part-time students. It includes students at further education colleges who were funded indirectly through an HEI; they have been counted within the numbers for that HEI. It excludes students studying on a directly funded HE programme at a FEC, and excludes students studying at HE level in institutions that are not publicly-funded. In what follows, the terms 'total' or 'entire' HE population do not imply inclusion of these groups.

Of the 2003/04 total, 60.6% (60.6%; 60.2%) were following a full-time or sandwich programme and the balance were following a part-time programme or were writing-up.

Of the 2003/04 total, 76.7% (77.1%; 77.5%) were studying for an undergraduate qualification (either at or below first degree level), and the balance for a qualification at postgraduate level.

A further 121,565 (121,150; 112,530) students were following a course at further education (FE) level within HEIs.

Full-time first degree students made up 45.1% (45.1%; 45.1%) of the HE student population.

21,920 students were reported through HEIs as studying for a foundation degree (11,715 in 2002/03; 3,775 in 2001/02, the first full year of the scheme) .

The proportion of the entire HE population studying part-time and writing-up was 39.4%, with exceptionally high proportions in 'Combined' and 'Education'.

Women made up 57.0% (56.6%; 56.2%) of the entire HE student population and 59.0% (58.6%; 58.0%) of UK domiciled undergraduates.

Subject areas with a high proportion of women included subjects allied to medicine (83.1%), education (73.8%), veterinary science (70.2%), and languages (68.0%). Subject areas with a high proportion of men included engineering & technology (84.6%), computer science (76.1%), and architecture building & planning (69.9%).

There were 300,055 (275,270; 242,755) students from countries other than the UK, of which 227,340 were full-time and 72,720 were part-time. Such students represented 13.4% (12.7%; 11.6%) of the entire HE student population, and the full-time and sandwich non-UK students represented 16.7% of the full-time HE student population. Students from outside the EU numbered 210,510, which represented 9.4% of the entire HE student population.

Students from outside the UK were well represented in engineering & technology, business & administrative studies, law, mathematical sciences, languages, computer science, and architecture building & planning.

Students from outside the UK made up 48.4% (46.7%; 42.9%) of all full-time postgraduates, with 37.2% coming from outside the EU.

Students on sandwich programmes made up 7.1% (7.4%; 7.8%) of all undergraduates. They formed the highest proportion in agriculture & related subjects, computer science, business & administrative studies, architecture building & planning, and engineering & technology.

22.5% (22.1%; 21.7%) of UK domiciled entrants on full-time first degree courses were aged 21 and over.

Ethnic minorities constituted 14.9% (14.7%; 14.1%) of all first year UK domiciled HE students of known ethnicity.

Of students who obtained a classified first degree, 58.7% (58.3%; 58.2%) were awarded first or upper second class honours, and 11.2% (11.0%; 10.4%) were awarded a first.

94.8% of full-time first degree students domiciled in England studied in their country of domicile; the corresponding figure for Wales was 58.9%, for Scotland 93.5%, and for Northern Ireland 70.9%.

Student population

In 2003/04 there were 2.37 million students studying for a qualification or for credit at 169 publicly-funded higher education institutions in the United Kingdom. Of these, 0.12 million (5.1%) were studying at further education level. Information about numbers of FE students studying in HEIs is included as the penultimate line of Table A (below) and in two of the main tables of this volume, but they are otherwise excluded from the figures presented here, and all percentages from this point onwards are relative to the HE total or subtotals of it.

Table A - All students by level(#12) and mode of study 2003/04
    Full-time & sandwich % of FT HE students Part-time & other % of PT HE students Writing-up % of writing-up HE students Total % of HE students
Higher degree (research) 56650 4.2% 30735 3.7% 23455 49.8% 110840 4.9%
  Doctorate degree mainly by research 44405 3.3% 22970 2.7% 20115 42.7% 87490 3.9%
  Masters degree mainly by research 12240 0.9% 7760 0.9% 3340 7.1% 23345 1.0%
  Postgraduate bachelors degree mainly by research 0 0.0% 5 0.0% 0 0.0% 10 0.0%
Higher degree (taught) 116745 8.6% 125790 15.0% 20160 42.8% 262695 11.7%
  Doctorate degree not mainly by research 820 0.1% 1005 0.1% 65 0.1% 1890 0.1%
  Masters degree not mainly by research 115585 8.5% 124355 14.8% 20090 42.7% 260030 11.6%
  Postgraduate bachelors degree not mainly by research 340 0.0% 430 0.1% 5 0.0% 775 0.0%
Other postgraduate 47000 3.5% 100625 12.0% 2670 5.7% 150295 6.7%
  Ordinary PGCE 28850 2.1% 7630 0.9% 35 0.1% 36510 1.6%
  All other postgraduate 18150 1.3% 92995 11.1% 2635 5.6% 113785 5.1%
Total postgraduate 220395 16.2% 257150 30.7% 46285 98.3% 523825 23.3%
First degree 1013925 74.4% 196295 23.4% 565 1.2% 1210780 53.9%
Other undergraduate 127930 9.4% 384690 45.9% 210 0.4% 512830 22.8%
  Foundation degree 11190 0.8% 10730 1.3% 0 0.0% 21920 1.0%
  HND 30110 2.2% 5325 0.6% 10 0.0% 35445 1.6%
  DipHE 16145 1.2% 9540 1.1% 15 0.0% 25700 1.1%
  HNC 1850 0.1% 14835 1.8% 15 0.0% 16695 0.7%
  All other undergraduate 68635 5.0% 344260 41.1% 175 0.4% 413070 18.4%
Total undergraduate 1141850 83.8% 580985 69.3% 775 1.7% 1723615 76.7%
Total HE students 1362245 100.0% 838130 100.0% 47065 100.0% 2247440 100.0%
Total FE students 20600   100965   0   121565  
Total 1382845   939095   47065   2369005  
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest 5. Percentages are not subject to rounding.
# see relevant footnote in Notes to Tables.

Of the 2,247,440 HE students recorded, 1,362,245 (60.6%) were following a full-time or sandwich programme and the balance were following a part-time programme or were writing-up.

Of the 523,825 (23.3% of the HE total) postgraduate students, 110,840 (21.2% of postgraduates) were studying for a research degree and 262,695 (50.1%) for a taught higher degree. Of the remaining postgraduate students, 36,510 were studying for a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE).

Of the 1,723,615 (76.7% of the HE total) undergraduates, 1,210,780 (70.2% of undergraduates) were studying for a first degree. Of the remaining undergraduate students, 21,920 were studying for a foundation degree.

All HE students by level and mode 2003/04

Domicile and gender

Table B provides a summary of students by domicile and gender.

Table B - All HE students by gender, mode and domicile 2003/04
    United Kingdom Other European Union countries European Union accession countries Other EEA countries Other Europe Africa Asia Australasia Middle East North America South America Non-European Union unknown Non-United Kingdom sub-total Total
Full-time 1134905 65010 4965 3395 5930 20020 99545 1325 8760 14830 2765 785 227340 1362245
  Female 632305 32060 2505 1900 3135 8225 47055 650 2615 8330 1315 360 108155 740460
  Male 502600 32950 2460 1490 2795 11795 52490 675 6145 6505 1450 430 119185 621785
Part-time 812475 24530 2335 590 2430 6655 22160 895 4155 7345 1250 370 72720 885195
  Female 507345 11990 1290 280 1195 2425 10070 445 1665 4040 610 200 34210 541555
  Male 305135 12540 1045 310 1235 4230 12090 445 2490 3305 640 170 38505 343640
All Students 1947385 89545 7300 3985 8360 26680 121705 2220 12920 22175 4015 1155 300055 2247440
  Female 1139650 44050 3800 2180 4330 10650 57125 1095 4280 12365 1925 560 142365 1282015
  Male 807735 45490 3500 1800 4030 16025 64580 1125 8635 9810 2090 600 157690 965425
% by domicile 86.6% 4.0% 0.3% 0.2% 0.4% 1.2% 5.4% 0.1% 0.6% 1.0% 0.2% 0.1% 13.4%  
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest 5. Percentages are not subject to rounding.

UK figures include 5,575 (3,360 full-time and 2,215 part-time) students from the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

There were 300,055 students (227,340 full-time and 72,720 part-time) from countries other than the UK. Such students represented 13.4% of the entire HE student population, and the full-time non-UK students represented 16.7% of the full-time HE student population. Students from outside the EU numbered 210,510, which represented 9.4% of the entire HE student population. Of these students, 121,705 (almost three-fifths) were from Asia.

There were 7,300 students from EU accession countries; these numbers will form part of the EU total from 2004/05 onwards.

Women made up 57.0% of the entire HE student population, being in the majority among both full-time (54.4%) and part-time (61.2%) students. The pattern was different as between UK students, of whom 58.5% were women, and students from outside the UK, where the proportion of women was 47.4%.

Table C provides a more detailed breakdown of the postgraduate population.

Table C - Postgraduates by gender, mode and domicile 2003/04
      United Kingdom Other European Union countries European Union accession countries Other EEA countries Other Europe Africa Asia Australasia Middle East North America South America Non-European Union unknown Non-United Kingdom sub-total Total
Higher degree (research) 67650 12345 930 230 1645 3290 14150 650 3595 5205 1050 100 43190 110840
  Full-time
    Female 13710 3045 230 45 490 555 3700 170 580 1365 260 15 10455 24165
    Male 16680 3935 250 65 520 1495 5685 245 1430 1750 390 45 15810 32485
  Part-time
    Female 17255 2415 205 50 300 345 1935 95 600 895 170 10 7015 24265
    Male 20010 2955 245 70 335 900 2835 140 990 1195 235 25 9915 29925
% by domicile 61.0% 11.1% 0.8% 0.2% 1.5% 3.0% 12.8% 0.6% 3.2% 4.7% 0.9% 0.1% 39.0%  
Higher degree (taught) 162575 23930 2135 1085 2810 9110 47415 690 3385 7670 1605 290 100120 262695
  Full-time
    Female 21680 7200 625 385 965 2110 18740 190 735 3170 535 85 34740 56420
    Male 20835 8260 495 435 875 4165 20290 230 1500 2490 600 150 39490 60325
  Part-time
    Female 65305 3870 545 120 405 900 3620 120 450 1015 215 20 11275 76580
    Male 54755 4595 475 145 565 1940 4770 150 700 995 250 30 14610 69365
% by domicile 61.9% 9.1% 0.8% 0.4% 1.1% 3.5% 18.0% 0.3% 1.3% 2.9% 0.6% 0.1% 38.1%  
Other postgraduate 137050 5110 365 185 435 1240 3710 230 625 1090 170 85 13245 150295
  Full-time
    Female 26460 1385 55 45 95 200 1030 45 50 335 30 5 3280 29740
    Male 14275 945 55 25 55 405 1130 35 90 210 30 5 2985 17260
  Part-time
    Female 62825 1485 150 60 145 210 665 70 220 270 55 30 3360 66185
    Male 33490 1290 105 55 135 425 880 80 265 275 55 45 3620 37110
% by domicile 91.2% 3.4% 0.2% 0.1% 0.3% 0.8% 2.5% 0.2% 0.4% 0.7% 0.1% 0.1% 8.8%  
All postgraduates 367275 41385 3430 1500 4890 13645 65275 1565 7605 13960 2820 475 156555 523825
  Full-time
    Female 61850 11630 910 475 1550 2865 23470 405 1365 4870 825 110 48475 110320
    Male 51785 13145 800 525 1450 6060 27100 510 3020 4450 1020 205 58285 110070
  Part-time
    Female 145385 7775 900 230 850 1450 6220 285 1265 2180 440 60 21650 167035
    Male 108255 8840 825 270 1040 3265 8485 370 1955 2460 540 105 28145 136400
% by domicile 70.1% 7.9% 0.7% 0.3% 0.9% 2.6% 12.5% 0.3% 1.5% 2.7% 0.5% 0.1% 29.9%  
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest 5. Percentages are not subject to rounding.

Students from outside the UK made up 29.9% of all postgraduates, and 48.4% of all full-time postgraduates, with 37.2% of full-time postgraduates coming from outside the EU (76.8% of the non-UK total). Non-UK students were prominent on full-time research degree programmes (46.4%) and even more so on full-time taught higher degree programmes (63.6%).

Women made up 52.9% of the entire postgraduate population, and 56.4% of UK domiciled postgraduates. There were considerable variations apparent in a breakdown by both type of programme and domicile, as shown by Chart 2.

Gender of postgraduates by domicile 2003/04

A major component of 'other postgraduate' numbers arose from PGCE programmes, where women are predominant and the large majority of students are UK domiciled, and this has contributed to the high proportion (63.8%) of women among students on 'other postgraduate' programmes. For taught higher degree programmes the gender balance was even with 50.6% women, and for research degree programmes the proportion of women was less than half at 43.7%. Breaking down the research degree programme figures by domicile shows that among students from EU countries including the UK, the proportion of women was 45.5%, whereas it was 38.9% for those from outside the EU.

Table D provides the same breakdown by domicile as Table C, but for undergraduates.

Table D - Undergraduates(#12) by gender, mode and domicile 2003/04
      United Kingdom Other European Union countries European Union accession countries Other EEA countries Other Europe Africa Asia Australasia Middle East North America South America Non- European Union unknown Non-United Kingdom sub-total Total
First degree 1095960 39410 3220 2345 2835 9475 46850 400 4420 4720 845 305 114820 1210780
  Full-time
    Female 492745 18525 1500 1375 1435 3910 20860 195 1115 2340 395 120 51775 544520
    Male 414860 18470 1555 945 1195 4725 22725 145 2690 1560 370 165 54545 469405
  Part-time
    Female 113805 1180 95 15 140 410 1380 40 285 585 45 15 4190 117995
    Male 74555 1235 65 5 65 435 1885 20 330 230 35 10 4310 78865
% by domicile 90.5% 3.3% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% 0.8% 3.9% 0.0% 0.4% 0.4% 0.1% 0.0% 9.5%  
Other undergraduate 484150 8750 650 140 640 3555 9575 255 895 3500 350 375 28680 512830
  Full-time
    Female 77715 1905 95 50 150 1450 2720 50 140 1120 95 130 7905 85620
    Male 35955 1340 105 20 150 1010 2665 20 430 490 60 60 6355 42310
  Part-time
    Female 248155 3035 295 35 205 565 2470 125 115 1270 125 125 8370 256525
    Male 122325 2470 150 35 130 530 1720 60 205 620 70 60 6055 128375
% by domicile 94.4% 1.7% 0.1% 0.0% 0.1% 0.7% 1.9% 0.0% 0.2% 0.7% 0.1% 0.1% 5.6%  
All undergraduates 1580110 48155 3870 2485 3470 13035 56430 650 5315 8220 1195 685 143500 1723615
  Full-time
    Female 570455 20430 1595 1425 1585 5360 23580 245 1255 3460 490 250 59680 630140
    Male 450815 19810 1660 965 1345 5735 25390 165 3125 2050 430 225 60900 511715
  Part-time
    Female 361960 4215 390 50 345 975 3850 160 400 1860 170 140 12560 374520
    Male 196880 3700 220 40 195 965 3605 80 540 850 100 70 10360 207240
% by domicile 91.7% 2.8% 0.2% 0.1% 0.2% 0.8% 3.3% 0.0% 0.3% 0.5% 0.1% 0.0% 8.3%  
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest 5. Percentages are not subject to rounding.
# see relevant footnote in Notes to Tables.

The pattern at undergraduate level was very different from that for postgraduates. Only 8.3% of undergraduates were from outside the UK, of which 2.8% were from other EU countries and 5.5% from non-EU countries. However, undergraduates made up a larger proportion of students from other EU countries, at 53.8%, than for non-EU countries, where the figure was 45.3%

Of UK domiciled undergraduates, 59.0% were women. The figure for other EU countries was 51.2%, and for non-EU countries it was very slightly lower at 49.9%.

The proportion of women on 'other undergraduate' programmes, that is, aiming for qualifications below degree level, was 66.7%; this figure did not vary much between full-time programmes (66.9%) and part-time programmes (66.6%); student numbers on part-time programmes constituted 75.1% of all those on programmes below first degree level. Subject of study is an important factor in explaining the high proportion of women on programmes below first degree level, as illustrated in the following section.

Subject of study

Table E shows the percentages of students at different levels who were following programmes in each of 19 subject areas, supplemented with the figures for four further areas cutting across or lying within the main areas. A detailed explanation of the main and supplementary subject areas, and the way in which student numbers are apportioned between them, may be found in the Definitions section of this volume.

Table E - All students by subject area(#5), level(#12) and mode 2003/04
                                        Percentages
    Higher degrees (research)   Higher degrees (taught)   Other postgraduate   First degree   Other undergraduate
    Total Full-time Part-time   Total Full-time Part-time   Total Full-time Part-time   Total Full-time Part-time   Total Full-time Part-time
Medicine & dentistry 8.2 6.8 9.6   1.9 1.6 2.2   1.6 0.4 2.2   3.0 3.6 0.0   0.1 0.2 0.0
Subjects allied to medicine 5.7 4.9 6.5   7.5 3.1 11.0   8.4 2.4 11.2   8.6 7.0 16.9   28.4 52.8 20.3
Biological sciences 12.0 14.0 10.0   4.6 4.8 4.5   1.5 1.2 1.6   9.2 9.2 8.8   1.7 2.3 1.5
Veterinary science 0.4 0.5 0.4   0.0 0.0 0.0   0.1 0.3 0.0   0.3 0.3 0.0   0.0 0.0 0.0
Agriculture & related subjects 1.1 1.2 1.0   0.7 0.9 0.6   0.1 0.1 0.2   0.6 0.7 0.2   0.8 2.0 0.4
Physical sciences 11.0 14.5 7.4   2.6 3.3 2.0   0.5 0.5 0.5   4.1 4.6 1.7   0.8 0.5 0.9
Mathematical sciences 2.2 3.0 1.4   1.1 1.2 1.0   0.5 0.2 0.7   1.9 1.9 1.8   0.4 0.3 0.4
Computer science 4.3 4.9 3.7   6.7 8.7 5.1   1.9 1.7 2.0   7.0 7.2 6.2   5.3 6.6 4.9
Engineering & technology 13.2 15.7 10.5   7.8 9.8 6.2   2.5 1.6 2.9   6.6 6.9 5.3   3.0 4.0 2.7
Architecture, building & planning 1.8 1.8 1.7   3.0 2.5 3.3   2.6 3.4 2.2   2.3 2.1 3.2   1.4 1.4 1.4
Social studies 9.4 9.1 9.7   9.8 12.5 7.6   4.3 3.1 4.9   9.2 9.2 9.2   7.4 3.6 8.7
Law 1.9 1.9 2.0   4.3 5.4 3.4   7.0 12.8 4.4   4.7 4.6 5.4   0.6 0.7 0.6
Business & administrative studies 4.9 4.1 5.7   27.9 28.0 27.8   14.7 3.8 19.7   12.5 13.4 8.0   9.3 10.8 8.7
Mass communications & documentation 0.8 0.7 0.9   2.8 3.5 2.3   0.8 1.5 0.4   2.7 3.1 0.6   0.8 1.3 0.6
Languages 6.4 6.1 6.6   3.6 4.4 3.1   0.6 1.0 0.3   6.6 7.1 3.8   7.4 2.7 8.9
Historical & philosophical studies 7.5 6.3 8.9   3.6 2.9 4.1   0.5 0.4 0.6   5.1 4.9 6.5   4.2 0.5 5.4
Creative arts & design 2.8 2.2 3.5   4.0 5.5 2.8   1.0 2.1 0.5   8.8 10.1 2.2   3.6 6.2 2.8
Education 6.2 2.3 10.3   8.0 1.9 12.8   50.0 63.4 43.9   3.5 3.3 4.4   9.2 2.4 11.4
Combined 0.1 0.1 0.2   0.1 0.0 0.2   1.4 0.0 2.0   3.3 0.8 15.8   15.7 1.6 20.3
  Supplementary subject information(1)
  Psychology 3.3 3.4 3.2   2.8 2.4 3.1   0.9 0.8 0.9   4.1 3.8 5.5   0.6 0.3 0.7
  Geography & environmental sciences 2.5 2.9 2.2   1.5 1.8 1.2   0.3 0.2 0.3   2.2 2.4 1.2   0.3 0.2 0.3
  Economics & politics 4.0 4.4 3.6   4.0 6.8 1.7   0.6 0.8 0.5   3.5 4.0 1.0   0.3 0.3 0.3
  English 2.3 2.3 2.3   1.4 1.5 1.3   0.2 0.5 0.1   3.4 3.5 2.4   2.2 2.3 2.1
Percentages are not subject to rounding.
(1) Numbers reported under 'Supplementary subject information' are within and not additional to the overall total, but are disaggregated from it on a different pattern from the 19 subject areas.
# see relevant footnote in Notes to Tables.

Most of the figures in this table speak for themselves, but there are two figures at the 'other undergraduate' level that need comment. The high proportion in 'Subjects allied to medicine' was because it is still the case that a qualification below first degree level is the norm in many health-related professions, at least as an initial qualification aim. By far the largest component is that attributable to nursing, which attracts a large majority of women students.

In previous years, the high figure under 'Combined', almost entirely in part-time mode, was generated by Open University (OU) undergraduate numbers. At the undergraduate level, the OU has only part-time students, and returned all of these as aiming for institutional credit despite the fact that many would achieve a first degree. Data returned by the Open University in 2003/04 now provides a split between part-time first degree students and other undergraduate students. This is due to changes in reporting practice made according to HEFCE funding requirements. In 2003/04 Open University students were reported according to their recorded award intention and the broad subject of that award intention at the HESA return date. This explains why the first degree part-time 'Combined' figure has increased since 2002/03. It should be noted that Open University students do not have to declare an award intention and many are still reported as studying for institutional credit within the 'Combined' subject area. It can also be seen that improved reporting practice has led to a reduction in the numbers on combined programmes between 2002/03 and 2003/04.

Table F shows that the proportion of part-time students varied greatly by subject area. At 91.3% almost all students in the 'Combined' subject area were part-time; again, this is attributable to the way OU students are reported. The other area with a very high proportion was 'Education', at 63.5%.

Table F - Percentage distribution by subject area(#5), mode, gender and non-United Kingdom domicile 2003/04
          Percentages
    % part-time % female % non-UK % non-EU
Medicine & dentistry 20.5 56.9 13.4 10.1
Subjects allied to medicine 49.5 83.1 5.6 3.6
Biological sciences 24.9 63.8 8.5 4.7
Veterinary science 8.1 70.2 11.9 8.8
Agriculture & related subjects 23.6 59.3 13.4 7.8
Physical sciences 19.0 40.2 12.0 7.2
Mathematical sciences 25.8 38.4 15.3 11.4
Computer science 30.9 23.9 16.3 12.5
Engineering & technology 28.6 15.4 28.2 19.6
Architecture, building & planning 41.1 30.1 16.3 10.7
Social studies 37.9 62.0 14.3 10.0
Law 27.8 59.3 17.2 13.0
Business & administrative studies 37.8 50.1 24.0 18.5
Mass communications & documentation 17.1 59.7 13.2 8.4
Languages 37.1 68.0 14.9 9.8
Historical & philosophical studies 44.1 56.4 7.5 4.7
Creative arts & design 15.4 60.8 11.0 6.6
Education 63.5 73.8 6.7 4.7
Combined 91.3 59.7 3.3 2.5
Total - All subject areas 39.4 57.0 13.4 9.4
  Supplementary subject information(1)
  Psychology 32.2 79.1 6.8 3.1
  Geography & environmental sciences 19.2 47.2 9.8 6.6
  Economics & politics 13.7 39.4 30.9 21.7
  English 27.8 71.7 13.9 11.0
Percentages are not subject to rounding.
(1) Numbers reported under 'Supplementary subject information' are within and not additional to the overall total, but are disaggregated from it on a different pattern from the 19 subject areas.
# see relevant footnote in Notes to Tables.

Similarly, the proportion of women students was heavily subject-dependent, with wide divergence from the overall figure of 57.0%. Subject areas with a high proportion of women included subjects allied to medicine (83.1%), education (73.8%), veterinary science (70.2%), and languages (68.0%). Subject areas with a low proportion of women included architecture building & planning (30.1%), computer science (23.9%), and engineering & technology (15.4%).

Students from outside the UK were well represented in engineering & technology, business & administrative studies, law, computer science, architecture building & planning, mathematical sciences, and languages.

Expected length of study

Table G shows the expected length of the programme of study reported for full-time first degree students who commenced studying in 2003/04 on programmes leading to first degrees.

Table G - First year, full-time, first degree students by subject area(#5) and expected length of programme(#6) 2003/04
    Expected Length of Programme
    d 3 years > 3 years & &#8804 4 years > 4 years & &#8804 5 years > 5 years
Medicine & dentistry 925 10.2% 540 6.0% 6440 71.4% 1115 12.4%
Subjects allied to medicine 20085 76.0% 5945 22.5% 335 1.3% 45 0.2%
Biological sciences 26970 78.9% 6975 20.4% 120 0.3% 115 0.3%
Veterinary science 105 13.8% 0 0.0% 630 84.0% 15 2.3%
Agriculture & related subjects 1705 63.6% 980 36.4% 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
Physical sciences 8985 56.4% 6305 39.6% 640 4.0% 5 0.0%
Mathematical sciences 3805 58.8% 2585 40.0% 70 1.1% 5 0.1%
Computer science 14285 56.6% 10605 42.0% 345 1.4% 5 0.0%
Engineering & technology 10165 41.8% 11795 48.5% 2350 9.7% 25 0.1%
Architecture, building & planning 4210 54.3% 2740 35.4% 510 6.6% 290 3.7%
Social studies 30925 88.9% 3630 10.4% 35 0.1% 175 0.5%
Law 15115 85.5% 2530 14.3% 30 0.2% 0 0.0%
Business & administrative studies 32795 63.3% 18510 35.7% 460 0.9% 30 0.1%
Mass communications & documentation 10895 91.1% 1060 8.9% 5 0.0% 0 0.0%
Languages 15215 63.6% 8395 35.1% 190 0.8% 110 0.5%
Historical & philosophical studies 15445 89.9% 1635 9.5% 10 0.1% 100 0.6%
Creative arts & design 32585 85.1% 5580 14.6% 120 0.3% 0 0.0%
Education 7945 64.2% 4415 35.7% 10 0.1% 5 0.0%
Combined 3285 85.1% 530 13.7% 45 1.2% 0 0.0%
Total - All subject areas 255450 70.1% 94745 26.0% 12355 3.4% 2045 0.6%
  Supplementary subject information(1)
  Psychology 12145 84.3% 2120 14.7% 25 0.2% 115 0.8%
  Geography & environmental sciences 6995 84.4% 1240 15.0% 5 0.0% 50 0.6%
  Economics & politics 12225 86.0% 1860 13.1% 30 0.2% 100 0.7%
  English 11495 90.6% 1135 8.9% 5 0.0% 60 0.5%
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest 5. Percentages are not subject to rounding.
(1) Numbers reported under 'Supplementary subject information' are within and not additional to the overall total, but are disaggregated from it on a different pattern from the 19 subject areas.
# see relevant footnote in Notes to Tables.

Overall 70.1% of these students were on programmes of up to three years' duration. There were considerable variations between subjects, with programmes longer than four years being associated mainly with professional training in subject areas such as medicine & dentistry, veterinary science, engineering & technology, and architecture building & planning. Four year programmes are common across a wide range of subjects, and 26.0% of students were on such programmes; some but by no means all of these were sandwich programmes, and these are discussed in more detail in the next section. Long programmes may have been slightly under-reported in Table G because of the possibility that, say, what is really a five year programme of study could have been reported as a three year basic programme followed by a two year professional programme.

Sandwich students

In most breakdowns by mode of study, sandwich students are included with full-time students. Students on sandwich programmes comprised 7.1% of all undergraduates. Table H shows by subject area the numbers broken down by first degree and other undergraduate levels, and the overall proportion within the area.

Table H - Undergraduate sandwich students by subject area(#5) 2003/04
    First degree Other UG Sandwich students as a percentage of all undergraduates
Medicine & dentistry 5 0 0.0%
Subjects allied to medicine 6220 1305 3.0%
Biological sciences 6520 10 5.5%
Veterinary science 0 0 0.0%
Agriculture & related subjects 2240 620 23.9%
Physical sciences 3805 15 7.1%
Mathematical sciences 1500 0 6.1%
Computer science 22610 370 20.4%
Engineering & technology 15185 345 16.2%
Architecture, building & planning 6895 185 20.7%
Social studies 2790 135 2.0%
Law 1735 5 2.9%
Business & administrative studies 37520 1740 19.7%
Mass communications & documentation 1340 0 3.7%
Languages 3140 0 2.7%
Historical & philosophical studies 90 0 0.1%
Creative arts & design 5170 5 4.1%
Education 245 95 0.4%
Combined 140 0 0.1%
Total - All subject areas 117160 4830 7.1%
  Supplementary subject information(1)
  Psychology 1800 0 3.5%
  Geography & environmental sciences 1100 5 3.9%
  Economics & politics 1825 0 4.2%
  English 85 0 0.2%
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest 5. Percentages are not subject to rounding.
(1) Numbers reported under 'Supplementary subject information' are within and not additional to the overall total, but are disaggregated from it on a different pattern from the 19 subject areas.
# see relevant footnote in Notes to Tables.

There was some sandwich programme provision in most subject areas, although in a few cases there were no more than a handful of students. Sandwich students formed the highest proportion of all undergraduate students in agriculture & related subjects, architecture building & planning, computer science, business & administrative studies, and engineering & technology.

Age of students

Table Ii shows the proportion of first year UK domiciled undergraduates in each age group.

Table Ii - Age distribution of first year United Kingdom domiciled undergraduates(#11) by mode of study 2003/04
              Percentages
  First degree   Other undergraduate
  Total Full-time Part-time   Total Full-time Part-time
18 & under 40.7 48.1 1.5   6.1 21.6 2.6
19 years 18.8 22.0 1.8   3.8 14.4 1.4
20 years 6.6 7.4 2.6   2.8 8.1 1.6
21 - 24 11.8 11.0 16.2   11.7 17.7 10.4
25 - 29 6.3 4.1 17.5   13.1 10.7 13.6
30 & over 15.8 7.4 60.4   62.5 27.5 70.3
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0   100.0 100.0 100.0
Percentages are not subject to rounding.
# see relevant footnote in Notes to Tables.

22.5% of UK domiciled entrants on full-time first degree courses, and 55.9% on full-time other undergraduate courses, were aged 21 and over. 60.4% of part-time first degree entrants were aged 30 or over.

Table Iii provides equivalent information for postgraduates.

Table Iii - Age distribution of first year United Kingdom domiciled postgraduates(#11) by mode of study 2003/04
      Percentages
  Total Full-time Part-time
20 & under 0.3 0.4 0.2
21 - 24 30.7 55.9 11.4
25 - 29 19.2 19.6 18.8
30 & over 49.8 24.2 69.6
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0
Percentages are not subject to rounding.
# see relevant footnote in Notes to Tables.

Ethnicity

Ethnicity is recorded using the categories available for the 2001 Census. Details can be found in the definitions section. These categories are then amalgamated following Office of National Statistics guidelines into the smaller number of categories shown in Chart 3 and in main tables. The scheme is designed to describe patterns of ethnicity within the UK domiciled population, and information on ethnicity is required by HESA only for students of UK domicile.

Ethnicity is known for 89.8% of UK domiciled first year undergraduates and 88.1% of UK domiciled first year postgraduates. Taking first year and continuing students together, it is known for 92.7% of undergraduates and 86.6% of postgraduates. Participation in HE by students from ethnic minorities continues to increase overall, and accordingly the most up to date picture is obtained from consideration of the position for new entrants. 14.9% of first year students of known ethnicity are from ethnic minorities, and for full-time first degree students the figure is 18.0%.

Table J - Ethnic minority students as a percentage of United Kingdom domiciled first year students of known ethnicity 2003/04
    Percentages
Higher degrees (research)   12.7
Full-time   13.0
Part-time   12.0
Higher degrees (taught)   16.7
Full-time   21.7
Part-time   12.8
Other postgraduate   10.4
Full-time   10.9
Part-time   10.0
First degree   17.1
Full-time   18.0
Part-time   12.0
Other undergraduate   12.9
Full-time   20.0
Part-time   11.2
Percentages are not subject to rounding.

There are substantial differences in gender participation across ethnic categories, and this is also dependent on mode of study. Chart 3 displays these effects jointly.

Female UK domiciled undergraduate students of known ethnic group by mode 2003/04

Qualifications obtained

In 2003/04 a total of 595,640 qualifications were awarded at HE level to students in publicly-funded HEIs or on indirectly funded HE programmes in FECs. Of these 30.6% were at postgraduate level, 49.0% were undergraduate first degrees, and 20.4% were other undergraduate qualifications. Table K provides a more detailed breakdown.

Table K - Qualifications obtained by level of qualification, mode and domicile 2003/04
    All qualifications Higher degree (research) Higher degree (taught) Other postgraduate First degree Other undergraduate Of which, Foundation Degree
Full-time 425260 13960 65060 39785 260450 46000 2275
  United Kingdom domiciled 335580 7990 23670 34380 229250 40295 2015
  Non-United Kingdom domiciled 89680 5975 41390 5405 31200 5710 260
Part-time 170380 4215 27475 31585 31640 75465 860
  United Kingdom domiciled 157480 3280 22455 29075 29310 73355 855
  Non-United Kingdom domiciled 12900 930 5020 2510 2330 2110 5
All students 595640 18175 92535 71370 292090 121465 3135
Percentage of all qualifications 100.0% 3.1% 15.5% 12.0% 49.0% 20.4% 0.5%
  United Kingdom domiciled 493060 11270 46125 63455 258560 113650 2870
  Non-United Kingdom domiciled 102580 6905 46410 7915 33530 7815 265
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest 5. Percentages are not subject to rounding.

Table L provides a breakdown of the class of award for first degrees.

Table L - First degree classifications by mode, domicile and gender 2003/04
      Total first degrees First class Upper second class Lower second class Third class/Pass Unclassified
Total full-time 260450 27235 117800 81590 17085 16735
Percentage of classified degrees - 11.2% 48.3% 33.5% 7.0% -
  United Kingdom domiciled 229250 23980 106815 70545 13610 14295
    Female 128985 13140 64705 37845 5810 7485
    Male 100265 10840 42105 32705 7805 6810
  Non-United Kingdom domiciled 31200 3255 10985 11045 3475 2440
    Female 15730 1565 6175 5510 1380 1095
    Male 15475 1690 4810 5535 2095 1345
Total part-time 31640 2940 10135 8880 3700 5990
Percentage of classified degrees - 11.5% 39.5% 34.6% 14.4% -
  United Kingdom domiciled 29310 2865 9540 7935 3250 5715
    Female 17770 1650 6080 4765 1655 3620
    Male 11540 1220 3460 3170 1595 2095
  Non-United Kingdom domiciled 2330 75 595 945 450 270
    Female 1045 35 275 400 175 155
    Male 1290 40 320 540 275 115
All students 292090 30175 127935 90470 20785 22725
Percentage of classified degrees - 11.2% 47.5% 33.6% 7.7% -
  United Kingdom domiciled 258560 26850 116350 78485 16860 20015
  Percentage of classified degrees - 11.3% 48.8% 32.9% 7.1% -
    Female 146755 14790 70785 42610 7465 11110
    Male 111805 12060 45565 35875 9400 8905
  Non-United Kingdom domiciled 33530 3330 11580 11985 3925 2710
  Percentage of classified degrees - 10.8% 37.6% 38.9% 12.7% -
    Female 16770 1600 6455 5910 1555 1250
    Male 16760 1730 5130 6075 2365 1460
All domiciles 292090 30175 127935 90470 20785 22725
  Female 163525 16390 77240 48520 9020 12355
  Percentage of classified degrees - 10.8% 51.1% 32.1% 6.0% -
  Male 128565 13785 50695 41950 11765 10365
  Percentage of classified degrees - 11.7% 42.9% 35.5% 10.0% -
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest 5. Percentages are not subject to rounding.

Of students who obtained a classified first degree, 11.2% were awarded first class honours and 58.7% were awarded either first or upper second class honours. Chart 4 shows the female/male, full-time/part-time, and UK/non-UK percentages drawn from Table L. The proportion of first class degrees did not depend heavily on any of these factors, but the proportion of upper seconds was substantially greater for female students than for male students, and similarly for UK students and for full-time students. Varying proportions of upper seconds were mainly balanced by proportions of thirds; the proportion of lower seconds did not vary greatly.

Percentage obtaining each classification by gender, domicile and mode 2003/04

Table M shows that there is considerable variation by subject area in the proportions of different classes of degrees that are awarded. This table excludes the clinical subject areas medicine & dentistry and veterinary science, in which the proportion of degrees awarded without classification is substantial.

Table M - First degree graduates in non-clinical subjects(#5) awarded first or upper second class honours as a percentage of classified degrees 2003/04
        Percentages
    First class Upper second First or upper second
Subjects allied to medicine 12.4 48.9 61.3
Biological sciences 11.0 49.1 60.1
Agriculture & related subjects 10.5 44.9 55.4
Physical sciences 17.3 42.8 60.1
Mathematical sciences 26.9 34.4 61.2
Computer science 13.1 38.2 51.2
Engineering & technology 17.9 39.8 57.8
Architecture, building & planning 10.6 43.1 53.7
Social studies 8.7 51.5 60.2
Law 5.3 51.6 56.9
Business & administrative studies 6.7 42.4 49.1
Mass communications & documentation 7.3 51.6 58.9
Languages 12.3 58.6 70.9
Historical & philosophical studies 11.8 59.1 70.9
Creative arts & design 11.5 49.3 60.7
Education 8.0 45.8 53.8
Combined 11.4 43.0 54.5
Total - Non-clinical subjects 11.2 47.5 58.6
  Supplementary subject information(1)
  Psychology 10.0 56.0 65.9
  Geography & environmental sciences 9.1 51.7 60.8
  Economics & politics 10.6 52.2 62.9
  English 11.3 58.8 70.1
Percentages are not subject to rounding.
(1) Numbers reported under 'Supplementary subject information' are within and not additional to the overall total, but are disaggregated from it on a different pattern from the 19 subject areas.
# see relevant footnote in Notes to Tables.

The female/male, full-time/part-time, and UK/non-UK proportions vary greatly across subject areas (see Table F), and because of this it is not meaningful to interpret small differences from population proportions of degree classes (for example, in the proportion of first class degrees) without adjusting for subject choice. That has not been attempted here, but the methodology used for benchmarking Performance Indicators could be applied.

Flows between administrations

The main tables provide figures showing student mobility within the UK for all UK domiciled students. However, the figures for postgraduate students should be interpreted with caution because the domicile will often reflect the location of undergraduate study rather than the original 'domestic' domicile. Part-time students display little mobility. It is accordingly of interest to focus on full-time undergraduates, and these figures are presented in Table N.

Table N - Full-time United Kingdom domiciled undergraduate students by domicile(#7), region of institution and level of study(#12) 2003/04
    Region of institution
    Total United Kingdom London England (other regions) England total Wales Scotland Northern Ireland
First degree 907600 128290 599965 728250 50880 102105 26370
  London 134940 79385 52020 131405 1415 2075 40
  England (other regions) 598525 45220 518575 563800 22790 11775 165
  England total 733460 124610 570595 695205 24205 13850 205
  Wales 44310 1570 16240 17805 26110 380 10
  Scotland 88835 705 4890 5595 180 83020 40
  Northern Ireland 36825 510 5290 5800 230 4690 26105
  Channel Islands and Isle of Man 2985 250 2470 2715 135 130 5
Other undergraduate 113670 17350 77540 94890 6240 11065 1470
  London 16065 12630 3300 15930 100 35 0
  England (other regions) 78340 4435 72575 77010 1185 145 0
  England total 94405 17065 75875 92940 1285 180 0
  Wales 5820 65 835 900 4915 5 0
  Scotland 11125 45 250 295 20 10810 5
  Northern Ireland 1880 55 275 330 15 65 1470
  Channel Islands and Isle of Man 125 10 105 120 5 0 0
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest 5.
# see relevant footnote in Notes to Tables.

695,205 out of 733,460 (94.8%) full-time first degree students domiciled in England studied in their country of domicile; the corresponding figures for Wales were 26,110 out of 44,310 (58.9%) for Scotland 83,020 out of 88,835 (93.5%), and for Northern Ireland 26,105 out of 36,825 (70.9%).

So English and Scottish students displayed little mobility in proportionate terms, but English numbers were large enough in absolute terms to mean that outwards mobility from England contributed almost half of Welsh numbers, and more than one-eighth of those in Scotland. Outwards mobility from Wales and Scotland was almost entirely to England, and outwards mobility from Northern Ireland divided fairly evenly between England and Scotland.

Within England, again for full-time first degree students, the flows into (45,220) and out of (52,020) London were fairly close to balance in absolute terms, which means that there was proportionately much more mobility out of London to the rest of England (38.5%) than in the reverse direction (7.6%). The table in the main body of the volume provides a full breakdown of mobility between English regions.

There was much less mobility between administrations at the level of full-time other undergraduate programmes than at the first degree level: the corresponding percentages for study in the country of domicile are 98.4% for England, 84.4% for Wales,97.2% for Scotland, and 78.1% for Northern Ireland.