Introduction - Students 2007/08
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 GuildHE. 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 2007/08, that is, the period 1 August 2007 to 31 July 2008. It covers data supplied by 166 HEIs (132 in England, 11 in Wales, 19 in Scotland, 4 in Northern Ireland); one of the English HEIs, The University of Buckingham, is a non-publicly-funded institution voluntarily providing data to HESA. 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.
For a limited period after the completion of normal data collection, an institution may, when required or approved to do so by the relevant funding body, submit data to the ‘Fixed Database’ through the HESA data collection system, in order to correct material errors in the data originally submitted and included in the ‘Collection Database’. Data from the ‘Fixed Database’ is available about 16 months after the closure of the original collection. This means that the ‘Fixed Database’ for the 2007/08 student data collection on which this volume is based will be available from April 2010. Although some corrections are applied to the funding models used by the funding bodies prior to general availability of the ‘Fixed Database’, this volume is based entirely on the ‘Collection Database’.
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 Destinations of Leavers from HE (DLHE) survey, 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 programmes.
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. Detailed data for institutional planning purposes is published on CD (HE Planning Plus and HE Finance Plus). The HESA Information Provision Service exists to meet more specialist needs of data users on a bespoke basis. The Higher Education Information Database for Institutions (heidi) commenced operation in April 2007, and offers a subscription service to institutions and approved HE bodies to allow the interrogation of HESA and other data through the production and export of tabular reports, and their display as charts.
Data protection
In order to comply with 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 minimise the risk of disclosure of personal information about any individual. The tabulations in this volume are derived from the HESA non-statutory populations1 and may differ slightly from those published by related statutory bodies or in National Statistics publications. This strategy involves rounding all numbers to the nearest multiple of 5. A summary of this strategy is as follows:
- 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0
- All other numbers are rounded to the nearest multiple of 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 numbers; the consequence of this is that the sum of numbers in each row or column rarely matches the total shown precisely. Note that subject level data calculated by apportionment is also rounded in accordance with this strategy.
Average values, proportions and FTE values prepared by HESA are not usually affected by the above strategy, and are calculated on precise raw numbers.
Percentages calculated on populations which contain 52 or fewer individuals are suppressed and represented as ‘..’ as are 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 in Microsoft® Excel 2003 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.
Change in population definition
The full set of students included in the HESA data collection is adjusted to produce the HESA Standard Registration Population (SRP), for example by the exclusion of students of dormant status during the entire reporting year. A detailed account of the SRP may be found in the definitions section of this volume. The SRP forms the basis for HESA reporting of student data. From 2007/08 onwards, the definition of the SRP has been changed to exclude two further subsets of students.
One of these subsets is very small, around 40 in total in 2007/08 spread across many institutions, and comprises students intermitting for a year to serve as sabbatical officers of student unions; their exclusion from the SRP has no material impact on statistical analysis or year-on-year comparisons, even at the institutional level.
The other newly excluded subset comprises students returned as ‘writing-up’. These are largely graduate students whose programmes of study have been completed, but whose theses or dissertations are still in preparation.
The exclusion of these students brings the SRP more closely into line with funding and fee arrangements, and in general produces a better measure of activity levels in institutions. However, the number of writing-up students is substantial, nearly 50,000 in 2007/08, and the validity of some year-on-year comparisons depends on making an appropriate adjustment to allow for the change in definition. Regardless of their previous mode of study, sabbaticals and writing-up students were included with part-time students when totals were disaggregated by mode of study for years prior to 2007/08. So year-on-year comparisons involving only full-time students are valid without adjustment, but where part-time numbers, or totals across both modes, are compared, adjustment is necessary. This also applies to percentages where sabbatical and writing-up numbers would previously have been included in the numerator or denominator or both.
Appendix A provides a fuller analysis of the impact of the change, with tables to show its effect disaggregated by level of study and by administration.
Students in UK higher education institutions, 2007/08
This commentary draws attention to some of the headline figures and key points that emerge from the main tables and those in the Introduction. The information is displayed graphically where appropriate. Where figures for previous years are quoted for comparison, they are taken from the 2006/07 and 2005/06 editions of this volume, except for ‘starred’ figures which have been adjusted by applying the new SRP definition to data for those years. Unstarred figures are not affected by the change in the SRP definition.
Summary of key points
2,306,105 students were recorded as following an HE programme leading to a qualification or credit at a UK higher education institution (all 165 publicly-funded HEIs together with The University of Buckingham) in 2007/08 (2,304,700* in 2006/07; 2,281,235* in 2005/06). 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, apart from The University of Buckingham. In what follows, the terms ‘total’ or ‘entire’ HE population do not imply inclusion of these groups.
Of the 2007/08 total, 64.2% (63.0%*; 62.8%*) were following a full-time or sandwich programme and the remaining 35.8% were following a part-time programme. Except where they are separated out explicitly in what follows, the full-time category includes sandwich students.
Of the 2007/08 total, 78.0% (78.2%*; 78.4%*) were studying for an undergraduate qualification (either at or below first degree level), and the balance for a qualification at postgraduate level.
Full-time first degree students made up 48.1% (47.1%*; 47.1%*) of the HE student population.
61,305 (50,165*; 40,455*) students were reported through HEIs as studying for a foundation degree. 2
There were exceptionally high proportions of part-time students in ‘Combined’ and ‘Education’.
Women made up 57.1% (57.5%*; 57.6%*) of the entire HE student population and 58.9% (59.2%*; 59.3%*) of UK domiciled3 undergraduates.
Subject areas with a high proportion of women included subjects allied to medicine (81.3%), veterinary science (76.0%), education (75.9%) and languages (67.2%). Subject areas with a high proportion of men included engineering & technology (85.6%), computer science (80.3%) and architecture, building & planning (69.3%).
There were 341,790 (325,985*; 307,040*) students from countries other than the UK, of which 278,410 were full-time and 63,380 were part-time. Such students represented 14.8% (14.1%*; 13.5%*) of the entire HE student population, and the full-time non-UK students represented 18.8% of the full-time HE student population. Students from outside the EU numbered 229,640 (220,575*; 207,055*), which represented 10.0% of the entire HE student population.
In 2007 two further countries, Romania and Bulgaria, joined the European Union. The student number from these 2007 accession countries, namely 2,430 (1,295*; 1,120*) is reported in the current volume as a component of the ‘Other European Union countries’ sub-total.
Students from outside the UK were well represented in engineering & technology, business & administrative studies, computer science, law and mathematical sciences.
Students from outside the UK made up 53.6% (51.5%; 49.8%) of all full-time postgraduates, with 41.7% coming from outside the EU.
Students on sandwich programmes made up 6.5% (6.5%*; 6.7%*) of all undergraduates. They formed the highest proportion of all undergraduate students in computer science, architecture, building & planning, business & administrative studies, agriculture & related subjects and engineering & technology.
20.7% (21.0%; 21.1%) of UK domiciled entrants on full-time first degree courses were aged 21 and over.
Ethnic minorities constituted 17.0% (16.4%; 16.0%) of all first-year UK domiciled HE students of known ethnicity.
14,975 (11,633; 9,275) foundation degrees were awarded.
Of students who obtained a classified first degree, 61.4% (60.2%; 59.5%) were awarded First or Upper Second Class Honours, and 13.3% (12.6%; 12.0%) were awarded First Class Honours.
95.1% of full-time first degree students domiciled in England studied in their country of domicile; the corresponding figure for Wales was 65.5%, for Scotland 94.1%, and for Northern Ireland 69.1%.
In addition to students studying at UK HEIs, there were 196,640 HE-level students studying entirely outside the UK, but either registered with a UK HEI or registered with a partner organisation and working towards a qualification awarded by a UK HEI. Of these ‘offshore students‘, 76.4% were studying outside the EU, with over 20,000 in each of Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), Singapore and Malaysia. Slightly more than half of all offshore students were studying by distance learning.
Student population
In 2007/08 there were 2.40 million students studying for a qualification or for credit at 166 higher education institutions (all 165 publicly-funded HEIs together with The University of Buckingham) in the United Kingdom. Of these, 0.09 million (3.9%) were studying at further education level.4 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 and mode of study 2007/08 | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full-time & sandwich | % of FT HE students | Part-time | % of PT HE students | Total | % of HE students | Writing-up and sabbatical students | % of writing-up and sabbatical HE students | |||||||
Higher degree (research) | 66130 | 4.5% | 27035 | 3.3% | 93160 | 4.0% | 27950 | 56.1% | ||||||
Doctorate degree mainly by research | 56800 | 3.8% | 21350 | 2.6% | 78150 | 3.4% | 25375 | 50.9% | ||||||
Masters degree mainly by research | 9330 | 0.6% | 5685 | 0.7% | 15015 | 0.7% | 2575 | 5.2% | ||||||
Higher degree (taught) | 143570 | 9.7% | 133770 | 16.2% | 277340 | 12.0% | 17880 | 35.9% | ||||||
Doctorate degree not mainly by research | 1355 | 0.1% | 1405 | 0.2% | 2755 | 0.1% | 145 | 0.3% | ||||||
Masters degree not mainly by research | 142170 | 9.6% | 132080 | 16.0% | 274245 | 11.9% | 17735 | 35.6% | ||||||
Postgraduate bachelors degree not mainly by research | 50 | 0.0% | 285 | 0.0% | 335 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | ||||||
Other postgraduate | 38685 | 2.6% | 91950 | 11.1% | 130635 | 5.7% | 2235 | 4.5% | ||||||
Postgraduate Certificate in Education | 24170 | 1.6% | 5640 | 0.7% | 29810 | 1.3% | 170 | 0.3% | ||||||
All other postgraduate | 14515 | 1.0% | 86310 | 10.5% | 100825 | 4.4% | 2065 | 4.1% | ||||||
Total postgraduate | 248380 | 16.8% | 252755 | 30.6% | 501135 | 21.7% | 48065 | 96.5% | ||||||
First degree | 1108685 | 74.9% | 198155 | 24.0% | 1306840 | 56.7% | 945 | 1.9% | ||||||
Other undergraduate | 123320 | 8.3% | 374810 | 45.4% | 498130 | 21.6% | 815 | 1.6% | ||||||
Professional Graduate Certificate in Education | 4125 | 0.3% | 2795 | 0.3% | 6920 | 0.3% | 5 | 0.0% | ||||||
Foundation degree | 32485 | 2.2% | 28820 | 3.5% | 61305 | 2.7% | 55 | 0.1% | ||||||
HND | 13810 | 0.9% | 3045 | 0.4% | 16855 | 0.7% | 10 | 0.0% | ||||||
DipHE | 53100 | 3.6% | 9660 | 1.2% | 62755 | 2.7% | 255 | 0.5% | ||||||
HNC | 1630 | 0.1% | 13180 | 1.6% | 14810 | 0.6% | 20 | 0.0% | ||||||
All other undergraduate | 18170 | 1.2% | 317315 | 38.4% | 335480 | 14.5% | 470 | 0.9% | ||||||
Total undergraduate | 1232005 | 83.2% | 572965 | 69.4% | 1804970 | 78.3% | 1760 | 3.5% | ||||||
Total HE students | 1480385 | 100.0% | 825720 | 100.0% | 2306105 | 100.0% | 49825 | 100.0% | ||||||
Total FE students(#17) | 14980 | 78710 | 93690 | 5 | ||||||||||
Total | 1495365 | 904430 | 2399795 | 49830 | ||||||||||
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 5. Percentages are not subject to rounding. | ||||||||||||||
# see relevant footnote in Notes to tables. |
Of the 2,306,105 HE students recorded, 1,480,385 (64.2%) were following a full-time or sandwich programme and the balance were following a part-time programme.
Of the 501,135 (21.7% of the HE total) postgraduate students, 93,160 (18.6% of postgraduates) were studying for a research degree and 277,340 (55.3% of postgraduates) for a taught higher degree.
Of the 1,804,970 (78.3% of the HE total) undergraduates, 1,306,840 (72.4% of undergraduates) were studying for a first degree. Of the remaining undergraduate students, 61,305 were studying for a foundation degree.
There were 29,810 students studying for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (or Professional Graduate Diploma in Education), which is a fully postgraduate qualification reported within the ‘Other postgraduate’ category, and 6,920 students studying for a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education, which is postgraduate in time but undergraduate in level, and is reported within the ‘Other undergraduate’ category. Prior to 2007/08, what are now these two separate qualifications were included within ‘Postgraduate Certificate in Education’ (abbreviated as ‘PGCE’) and reported within the ‘Other postgraduate’ category.
Domicile and gender
Table B provides a summary of students by domicile and gender.
Table B - All HE students by gender, mode and domicile 2007/08 | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | Other European Union countries | ..of which 2007 accession countries(#3) | 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(#2) | 1201970 | 86715 | 1990 | 2675 | 7200 | 25350 | 120135 | 1520 | 13210 | 17130 | 3090 | 1385 | 278410 | 1480385 |
Female | 677900 | 45865 | 1195 | 1565 | 3805 | 10165 | 54625 | 790 | 4005 | 10005 | 1540 | 665 | 133030 | 810930 |
Male | 524045 | 40850 | 800 | 1115 | 3400 | 15180 | 65510 | 730 | 9205 | 7120 | 1550 | 720 | 145375 | 669420 |
Part-time(#2) | 762340 | 25435 | 440 | 400 | 1790 | 6945 | 17345 | 770 | 3480 | 5685 | 1070 | 460 | 63380 | 825720 |
Female | 476690 | 13335 | 270 | 215 | 910 | 2960 | 7215 | 450 | 1005 | 3195 | 640 | 200 | 30120 | 506805 |
Male | 285550 | 12100 | 170 | 185 | 880 | 3990 | 10130 | 320 | 2475 | 2485 | 425 | 260 | 33250 | 318800 |
All students(#2) | 1964315 | 112150 | 2430 | 3075 | 8995 | 32295 | 137485 | 2285 | 16690 | 22810 | 4160 | 1845 | 341790 | 2306105 |
Female | 1154590 | 59200 | 1465 | 1775 | 4715 | 13125 | 61840 | 1240 | 5010 | 13200 | 2180 | 865 | 163145 | 1317735 |
Male | 809595 | 52950 | 965 | 1300 | 4280 | 19170 | 75640 | 1045 | 11685 | 9605 | 1975 | 980 | 178625 | 988220 |
% by domicile | 85.2% | 4.9% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.4% | 1.4% | 6.0% | 0.1% | 0.7% | 1.0% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 14.8% | |
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 5. Percentages are not subject to rounding. | ||||||||||||||
# see relevant footnote in Notes to tables. |
UK figures include 4,735 (3,695 full-time and 1,035 part-time, see Tables 5a and 5b respectively) students from Guernsey, Jersey5 and the Isle of Man (‘Islands Students’). The number of full-time islands students is similar to that reported for recent years. The number of part-time islands students is about half of that reported for recent years, but an approximately balancing number of distance-learning students were reported for 2007/08 through the newly-introduced Overseas Aggregate Return.
There were 341,790 students (278,410 full-time and 63,380 part-time) from countries other than the UK. Such students represented 14.8% of the entire HE student population, and the full-time non-UK students represented 18.8% of the full-time HE student population. Students from outside the EU numbered 229,640, which represented 10.0% of the entire HE student population. Of these students, 137,485 (just under three-fifths) were from Asia.
The number of students from the EU 2007 accession countries (Bulgaria and Romania) was 2,430. From 2007/08 these students fall within the ‘Other European Union countries’ category, but are separately identified within the sub-total for that category in the current volume, and will be again in the 2008/09 volume, but not thereafter. In each of the volumes for 2005/06 and 2006/07, the corresponding number was reported but was not a component of that sub-total.
Women made up 57.1% of the entire HE student population, being in the majority among both full-time (54.8%) and part-time (61.4%) students. The pattern was different as between UK students, of whom 58.8% were women, and students from outside the UK, where the proportion of women was 47.7%.
Table C provides a more detailed breakdown of the postgraduate population.
Table C - Postgraduates by gender, mode and domicile 2007/08 | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | Other European Union countries | ..of which 2007 accession countries(#3) | 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)(#2) | 53300 | 12635 | 295 | 200 | 1115 | 3650 | 12570 | 555 | 3605 | 4415 | 815 | 295 | 39860 | 93160 |
Full-time | ||||||||||||||
Female | 15445 | 4500 | 155 | 60 | 465 | 915 | 4755 | 245 | 950 | 1740 | 265 | 90 | 13980 | 29425 |
Male | 17540 | 5235 | 90 | 70 | 440 | 2245 | 6455 | 245 | 2030 | 1825 | 440 | 170 | 19165 | 36705 |
Part-time | ||||||||||||||
Female | 10375 | 1335 | 30 | 30 | 90 | 175 | 615 | 30 | 225 | 335 | 50 | 10 | 2900 | 13280 |
Male | 9940 | 1560 | 25 | 35 | 120 | 315 | 745 | 35 | 400 | 515 | 65 | 25 | 3815 | 13755 |
% by domicile | 57.2% | 13.6% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 1.2% | 3.9% | 13.5% | 0.6% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 0.9% | 0.3% | 42.8% | |
Higher degree (taught)(#2) | 161535 | 25095 | 565 | 690 | 3240 | 12905 | 57425 | 755 | 4825 | 8150 | 1765 | 955 | 115800 | 277340 |
Full-time | ||||||||||||||
Female | 25670 | 9245 | 300 | 295 | 1365 | 3800 | 22655 | 225 | 1250 | 3865 | 675 | 395 | 43765 | 69435 |
Male | 22810 | 8485 | 155 | 245 | 1100 | 6320 | 28880 | 230 | 2455 | 2610 | 670 | 325 | 51320 | 74130 |
Part-time | ||||||||||||||
Female | 63790 | 3845 | 60 | 75 | 360 | 1030 | 1865 | 155 | 340 | 800 | 250 | 80 | 8800 | 72590 |
Male | 49240 | 3520 | 55 | 75 | 415 | 1755 | 4020 | 140 | 780 | 880 | 170 | 155 | 11910 | 61150 |
% by domicile | 58.2% | 9.0% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1.2% | 4.7% | 20.7% | 0.3% | 1.7% | 2.9% | 0.6% | 0.3% | 41.8% | |
Other postgraduate(#2) | 118815 | 4560 | 60 | 70 | 325 | 1295 | 3520 | 220 | 390 | 1035 | 285 | 120 | 11820 | 130635 |
Full-time | ||||||||||||||
Female | 22825 | 1245 | 20 | 15 | 60 | 175 | 775 | 45 | 35 | 270 | 70 | 20 | 2715 | 25540 |
Male | 11040 | 645 | 5 | 10 | 45 | 295 | 835 | 20 | 50 | 125 | 35 | 50 | 2105 | 13145 |
Part-time | ||||||||||||||
Female | 55900 | 1475 | 20 | 25 | 105 | 335 | 795 | 85 | 120 | 330 | 100 | 20 | 3390 | 59290 |
Male | 29035 | 1195 | 15 | 25 | 120 | 490 | 1115 | 70 | 185 | 305 | 75 | 30 | 3610 | 32645 |
% by domicile | 91.0% | 3.5% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 1.0% | 2.7% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 9.0% | |
All postgraduate(#2) | 333655 | 42285 | 925 | 960 | 4685 | 17855 | 73520 | 1525 | 8815 | 13600 | 2865 | 1370 | 167480 | 501135 |
Full-time | ||||||||||||||
Female | 63940 | 14990 | 470 | 370 | 1885 | 4895 | 28185 | 510 | 2235 | 5875 | 1010 | 505 | 60460 | 124400 |
Male | 51395 | 14365 | 250 | 325 | 1585 | 8860 | 36175 | 495 | 4535 | 4560 | 1145 | 545 | 72585 | 123980 |
Part-time | ||||||||||||||
Female | 130065 | 6655 | 105 | 130 | 550 | 1545 | 3280 | 275 | 680 | 1465 | 405 | 110 | 15095 | 145160 |
Male | 88215 | 6275 | 95 | 135 | 655 | 2560 | 5880 | 245 | 1365 | 1700 | 310 | 210 | 19335 | 107550 |
% by domicile | 66.6% | 8.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.9% | 3.6% | 14.7% | 0.3% | 1.8% | 2.7% | 0.6% | 0.3% | 33.4% | |
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 5. Percentages are not subject to rounding. | ||||||||||||||
# see relevant footnote in Notes to tables. |
Students from outside the UK made up 33.4% of all postgraduates, and 53.6% of all full-time postgraduates, with 41.7% of full-time postgraduates coming from outside the EU (77.9% of the non-UK total). Non-UK students were prominent on full-time research degree programmes (50.1%) and even more so on full-time taught higher degree programmes (66.2%).
Women made up 53.8% of the entire postgraduate population, and 58.1% of UK domiciled postgraduates. There were considerable variations apparent in a breakdown by both type of programme and domicile, as shown by Chart 2.
A major component of ‘Other postgraduate’ numbers arose from Postgraduate Certificate in Education programmes, where women are predominant and the large majority of students are UK domiciled, and this has contributed to the high proportion (64.9%) of women among students on ‘Other postgraduate’ programmes. For taught higher degree programmes the gender balance was close to even with 51.2% women, and for research degree programmes the proportion of women was less than half at 45.8%. Breaking down the research degree programme figures by domicile shows that among students from EU countries including the UK, the proportion of women was 48.0%, whereas it was 40.6% for those from outside the EU.
Table D provides the same breakdown by domicile as Table C, but for undergraduates.
Table D - Undergraduates by gender, mode and domicile 2007/08 | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | Other European Union countries | ..of which 2007 accession countries(#3) | 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(#2) | 1163270 | 56820 | 1275 | 1940 | 3560 | 11485 | 55275 | 455 | 6615 | 6220 | 945 | 255 | 143570 | 1306840 |
Full-time | ||||||||||||||
Female | 537745 | 28845 | 700 | 1145 | 1765 | 4585 | 24390 | 220 | 1635 | 3505 | 480 | 85 | 66660 | 604405 |
Male | 436955 | 25055 | 530 | 755 | 1675 | 5610 | 27160 | 195 | 4105 | 2250 | 370 | 125 | 67305 | 504260 |
Part-time | ||||||||||||||
Female | 114085 | 1585 | 30 | 30 | 70 | 585 | 1320 | 30 | 125 | 335 | 60 | 30 | 4165 | 118250 |
Male | 74460 | 1335 | 15 | 10 | 55 | 705 | 2400 | 10 | 745 | 130 | 35 | 15 | 5445 | 79905 |
% by domicile | 89.0% | 4.3% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.9% | 4.2% | 0.0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 11.0% | |
Other undergraduate(#2) | 467390 | 13045 | 230 | 175 | 750 | 2955 | 8690 | 305 | 1265 | 2995 | 350 | 220 | 30735 | 498130 |
Full-time | ||||||||||||||
Female | 76215 | 2030 | 25 | 45 | 155 | 685 | 2050 | 55 | 130 | 625 | 50 | 75 | 5910 | 82125 |
Male | 35695 | 1430 | 20 | 35 | 135 | 710 | 2175 | 35 | 565 | 310 | 35 | 50 | 5485 | 41185 |
Part-time | ||||||||||||||
Female | 232540 | 5095 | 130 | 55 | 290 | 830 | 2615 | 150 | 200 | 1395 | 180 | 60 | 10860 | 243400 |
Male | 122875 | 4490 | 60 | 40 | 170 | 730 | 1850 | 60 | 370 | 655 | 80 | 35 | 8475 | 131350 |
% by domicile | 93.8% | 2.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.6% | 1.7% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 6.2% | |
All undergraduate(#2) | 1630660 | 69865 | 1505 | 2115 | 4310 | 14440 | 63965 | 760 | 7875 | 9210 | 1290 | 475 | 174310 | 1804970 |
Full-time | ||||||||||||||
Female | 613960 | 30875 | 725 | 1195 | 1915 | 5275 | 26440 | 280 | 1765 | 4130 | 530 | 160 | 72565 | 686530 |
Male | 472650 | 26485 | 545 | 790 | 1810 | 6320 | 29340 | 230 | 4670 | 2560 | 405 | 175 | 72790 | 545445 |
Part-time | ||||||||||||||
Female | 346625 | 6680 | 160 | 80 | 360 | 1415 | 3935 | 175 | 325 | 1730 | 240 | 90 | 15025 | 361645 |
Male | 197335 | 5825 | 75 | 50 | 225 | 1430 | 4250 | 75 | 1115 | 785 | 115 | 50 | 13920 | 211250 |
% by domicile | 90.3% | 3.9% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.8% | 3.5% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 9.7% | |
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 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 9.7% of undergraduates were from outside the UK, comprising 3.9% from other EU countries and 5.8% from non-EU countries. However, undergraduates made up a larger proportion of students from other EU countries, at 62.3%, than for non-EU countries, where the figure was 45.5%
Of UK domiciled undergraduates, 58.9% were women. The figure for other EU countries was 53.8%, and for non-EU countries it was slightly lower at 47.9%.
The proportion of women on ‘Other undergraduate’ programmes, that is, aiming for qualifications below degree level, was 65.3%; this figure did not vary much between full-time programmes (66.6%) and part-time programmes (64.9%); student numbers on part-time programmes constituted 75.2% 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 a separate article in this volume.
Table E - All students by subject area(#1), level and mode 2007/08 | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentages | |||||||||||||||||||
Higher degree (research) | Higher degree (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 | 8.4 | 7.5 | 10.7 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | ||||
Subjects allied to medicine | 6.0 | 5.1 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 4.1 | 13.2 | 13.6 | 6.5 | 16.5 | 8.7 | 7.8 | 13.8 | ## | 46.5 | 18.4 | ||||
Biological sciences | 11.8 | 13.2 | 8.2 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 8.7 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 1.6 | ||||
Veterinary science | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||||
Agriculture & related subjects | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 1.2 | ||||
Physical sciences | 11.1 | 14.2 | 3.5 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.4 | ||||
Mathematical sciences | 2.4 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.7 | ||||
Computer science | 4.7 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 5.1 | 7.0 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 2.8 | ||||
Engineering & technology | 12.6 | 14.9 | 6.9 | 7.6 | 9.4 | 5.6 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 5.6 | 3.7 | 5.1 | 3.2 | ||||
Architecture, building & planning | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 4.8 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 4.4 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 2.1 | ||||
Social studies | 9.2 | 9.5 | 8.4 | 9.5 | 11.9 | 6.9 | 3.7 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.9 | 6.9 | 4.5 | 7.7 | ||||
Law | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 3.8 | 6.1 | 12.8 | 3.3 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 1.1 | ||||
Business & administrative studies | 5.5 | 4.5 | 7.9 | 28.0 | 30.4 | 25.5 | 12.0 | 2.2 | 16.1 | 12.5 | 13.1 | 8.8 | 9.8 | 9.2 | 10.1 | ||||
Mass communications & documentation | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.4 | ||||
Languages | 5.9 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 4.8 | 7.2 | 1.9 | 8.9 | ||||
Historical & philosophical studies | 7.3 | 6.4 | 9.4 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 6.5 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 4.1 | ||||
Creative arts & design | 3.4 | 2.7 | 5.2 | 4.6 | 5.6 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 9.5 | 10.8 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 8.1 | 1.8 | ||||
Education | 6.3 | 2.3 | 15.8 | 8.1 | 2.3 | 14.3 | 49.6 | 64.5 | 43.4 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 11.4 | 7.2 | 12.7 | ||||
Combined | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 14.4 | 16.6 | 1.0 | 21.7 | ||||
Supplementary subject information(1) | |||||||||||||||||||
Psychology | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | ||||
Geography | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | ||||
Economics & politics | 3.8 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 6.0 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | ||||
English | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 2.4 | ||||
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, those for ‘Subjects allied to medicine’ and ‘Combined’. 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. Many Open University students, who do not, at least initially, have to declare an award intention, are reported as studying for institutional credit in the ‘Combined’ subject area.
Table F shows that the proportion of part-time students varied greatly by subject area. At 94.7% 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 59.7%.
Table F - Percentage distribution by subject area(#1), mode, gender and non-United Kingdom domicile 2007/08 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Percentages | ||||
% part-time | % female | % non-UK | % non-EU | |
Medicine & dentistry | 16.7 | 57.9 | 14.5 | 10.5 |
Subjects allied to medicine | 45.8 | 81.3 | 6.9 | 4.3 |
Biological sciences | 20.6 | 63.8 | 9.5 | 5.0 |
Veterinary science | 5.7 | 76.0 | 13.4 | 9.8 |
Agriculture & related subjects | 33.9 | 58.9 | 13.0 | 7.7 |
Physical sciences | 18.9 | 41.6 | 12.6 | 7.6 |
Mathematical sciences | 22.7 | 38.5 | 18.0 | 12.7 |
Computer science | 27.7 | 19.7 | 20.4 | 15.0 |
Engineering & technology | 25.2 | 16.4 | 30.5 | 22.2 |
Architecture, building & planning | 40.8 | 30.7 | 14.6 | 9.2 |
Social studies | 32.1 | 62.7 | 14.7 | 9.5 |
Law | 24.6 | 59.1 | 18.5 | 12.9 |
Business & administrative studies | 34.2 | 48.6 | 29.2 | 21.9 |
Mass communications & documentation | 13.6 | 57.2 | 14.8 | 8.6 |
Languages | 35.4 | 67.2 | 15.3 | 8.7 |
Historical & philosophical studies | 37.0 | 54.3 | 8.4 | 5.0 |
Creative arts & design | 11.6 | 60.8 | 11.7 | 6.5 |
Education | 59.7 | 75.9 | 5.6 | 3.4 |
Combined | 94.7 | 61.8 | 3.9 | 2.3 |
Total - All subject areas | 35.8 | 57.1 | 14.8 | 10.0 |
Supplementary subject information(1) | ||||
Psychology | 28.7 | 79.8 | 7.9 | 3.5 |
Geography | 17.6 | 49.1 | 8.4 | 5.5 |
Economics & politics | 11.4 | 39.6 | 31.1 | 20.6 |
English | 28.4 | 69.5 | 14.6 | 10.1 |
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. |
Similarly, the proportion of women students was heavily subject-dependent, with wide divergence from the overall figure of 57.1%. Subject areas with a high proportion of women included subjects allied to medicine (81.3%), veterinary science (76.0%), education (75.9%) and languages (67.2%). Subject areas with a low proportion of women included architecture, building & planning (30.7%), computer science (19.7%), and engineering & technology (16.4%).
Students from outside the UK were well represented in engineering & technology, business & administrative studies, computer science, law and mathematical sciences.
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 2007/08.
Table G - First year, full-time, first degree students by subject area(#1) and expected length of programme(#4) 2007/08 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Expected length of programme | ||||||||
≤ 3 years | > 3 years ≤ 4 years | > 4 years ≤ 5 years | > 5 years | |||||
Medicine & dentistry | 425 | 4.4% | 1105 | 11.4% | 7230 | 74.6% | 930 | 9.6% |
Subjects allied to medicine | 21495 | 74.4% | 7070 | 24.5% | 265 | 0.9% | 70 | 0.2% |
Biological sciences | 30665 | 77.8% | 8320 | 21.1% | 395 | 1.0% | 55 | 0.1% |
Veterinary science | 105 | 11.0% | 70 | 7.5% | 720 | 74.9% | 65 | 6.6% |
Agriculture & related subjects | 1690 | 66.0% | 840 | 32.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 30 | 1.2% |
Physical sciences | 8970 | 51.5% | 7755 | 44.5% | 600 | 3.5% | 85 | 0.5% |
Mathematical sciences | 4730 | 60.1% | 3040 | 38.6% | 100 | 1.3% | 0 | 0.0% |
Computer science | 10360 | 55.1% | 7865 | 41.8% | 535 | 2.9% | 40 | 0.2% |
Engineering & technology | 11360 | 43.1% | 12630 | 47.9% | 2330 | 8.8% | 40 | 0.1% |
Architecture, building & planning | 5705 | 57.5% | 3500 | 35.3% | 440 | 4.4% | 265 | 2.7% |
Social studies | 32755 | 86.2% | 5005 | 13.2% | 25 | 0.1% | 205 | 0.5% |
Law | 15725 | 81.3% | 3555 | 18.4% | 65 | 0.3% | 0 | 0.0% |
Business & administrative studies | 36435 | 64.3% | 19725 | 34.8% | 275 | 0.5% | 190 | 0.3% |
Mass communications & documentation | 11605 | 89.7% | 1280 | 9.9% | 25 | 0.2% | 35 | 0.3% |
Languages | 15805 | 62.7% | 9125 | 36.2% | 170 | 0.7% | 115 | 0.5% |
Historical & philosophical studies | 15265 | 88.0% | 2035 | 11.7% | 5 | 0.0% | 50 | 0.3% |
Creative arts & design | 38300 | 84.6% | 6705 | 14.8% | 200 | 0.4% | 40 | 0.1% |
Education | 11310 | 74.0% | 3735 | 24.5% | 235 | 1.5% | 0 | 0.0% |
Combined | 1295 | 56.0% | 1020 | 44.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
Total - All subject areas | 273995 | 69.5% | 104380 | 26.5% | 13625 | 3.5% | 2220 | 0.6% |
Supplementary subject information(1) | ||||||||
Psychology | 13115 | 84.3% | 2330 | 15.0% | 115 | 0.7% | 0 | 0.0% |
Geography | 5325 | 82.2% | 1130 | 17.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 20 | 0.3% |
Economics & politics | 12495 | 83.6% | 2430 | 16.3% | 15 | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0% |
English | 12355 | 88.8% | 1425 | 10.2% | 15 | 0.1% | 115 | 0.8% |
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 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 69.5% 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 veterinary science and medicine & dentistry, and to a much smaller extent in engineering & technology, and architecture, building & planning. Four year programmes are common across a wide range of subjects, and 26.5% 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 6.5% 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(#1) 2007/08 | |||
---|---|---|---|
First degree | Other undergraduate | Sandwich students as a percentage of all undergraduates | |
Medicine & dentistry | 15 | 0 | 0.0% |
Subjects allied to medicine | 5485 | 1200 | 2.8% |
Biological sciences | 7055 | 0 | 5.2% |
Veterinary science | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Agriculture & related subjects | 1850 | 600 | 16.3% |
Physical sciences | 4035 | 10 | 6.3% |
Mathematical sciences | 1500 | 0 | 5.2% |
Computer science | 16210 | 35 | 21.5% |
Engineering & technology | 15645 | 535 | 15.6% |
Architecture, building & planning | 9325 | 480 | 20.4% |
Social studies | 3445 | 0 | 2.2% |
Law | 1845 | 0 | 2.7% |
Business & administrative studies | 36685 | 1185 | 17.9% |
Mass communications & documentation | 1215 | 0 | 3.1% |
Languages | 2755 | 0 | 2.3% |
Historical & philosophical studies | 290 | 0 | 0.4% |
Creative arts & design | 5930 | 0 | 4.2% |
Education | 55 | 20 | 0.1% |
Combined | 685 | 0 | 0.6% |
Total - All subject areas | 114025 | 4065 | 6.5% |
Supplementary subject information(1) | |||
Psychology | 2035 | 0 | 3.5% |
Geography | 685 | 0 | 3.0% |
Economics & politics | 2295 | 0 | 4.8% |
English | 305 | 0 | 0.5% |
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 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 all subject areas except veterinary science, but with very small numbers in medicine & dentistry and in education. These are subjects where the extensive practical training is not structured on the sandwich pattern. Sandwich students formed the highest proportion of all undergraduate students in computer science, architecture, building & planning, business & administrative studies, agriculture & related subjects 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(#7) of first year United Kingdom domiciled undergraduates by mode of study 2007/08 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentages | |||||||
First degree | Other undergraduate | ||||||
Total | Full-time | Part-time | Total | Full-time | Part-time | ||
18 & under | 42.2 | 49.4 | 2.2 | 7.5 | 20.5 | 4.6 | |
19 years | 19.6 | 22.7 | 2.4 | 4.0 | 13.7 | 1.9 | |
20 years | 6.6 | 7.2 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 7.1 | 2.0 | |
21 - 24 | 11.3 | 10.4 | 15.9 | 12.6 | 21.4 | 10.6 | |
25 - 29 | 6.3 | 4.1 | 18.4 | 14.4 | 12.4 | 14.8 | |
30 & over | 14.1 | 6.1 | 58.3 | 58.6 | 24.9 | 66.1 | |
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. |
20.7% of UK domiciled entrants on full-time first degree courses, and 58.7% on full-time other undergraduate courses, were aged 21 and over. 58.3% of part-time first degree entrants were aged 30 or over.
Table Iii provides equivalent information for postgraduates.
Table Iii - Age distribution(#7) of first year United Kingdom domiciled postgraduates by mode of study 2007/08 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Percentages | |||
Total | Full-time | Part-time | |
20 & under | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 |
21 - 24 | 30.8 | 55.8 | 12.2 |
25 - 29 | 21.0 | 21.1 | 21.0 |
30 & over | 47.8 | 22.5 | 66.5 |
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 for 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 94.0% of UK domiciled first-year undergraduates and 93.0% of UK domiciled first-year postgraduates (from Table 10b). Taking first-year and continuing students together, it is known for 95.6% of undergraduates and 92.3% of postgraduates (from Table 10a). 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. 17.0% of first-year students of known ethnicity are from ethnic minorities, and for full-time first degree students the figure is 20.4% (from Table 10b).
Table J - Ethnic minority students as a percentage of United Kingdom domiciled first year students of known ethnicity 2007/08 | |
---|---|
Percentages | |
Higher degree (research) | 14.9 |
Full-time | 15.0 |
Part-time | 14.6 |
Higher degree (taught) | 20.4 |
Full-time | 25.6 |
Part-time | 16.2 |
Other postgraduate | 12.9 |
Full-time | 12.8 |
Part-time | 13.0 |
First degree | 19.6 |
Full-time | 20.4 |
Part-time | 14.6 |
Other undergraduate | 13.9 |
Full-time | 20.1 |
Part-time | 12.4 |
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.
Qualifications obtained
In 2007/08 a total of 676,460 qualifications were awarded at HE level to students in publicly-funded HEIs (together with The University of Buckingham) or on indirectly funded HE programmes in FECs. Of these 29.9% were at postgraduate level, 49.5% were undergraduate first degree qualifications, and 20.6% were other undergraduate qualifications. 14,975 foundation degrees were awarded, 2.2% of the total. Table K provides a more detailed breakdown.
Table K - Qualifications obtained by level of qualification, mode and domicile 2007/08 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All qualifications | Higher degree (research) | Higher degree (taught) | Other postgraduate | First degree | Other undergraduate | ..of which, foundation degree | |
Full-time | 489005 | 15320 | 84215 | 32705 | 297235 | 59530 | 9570 |
United Kingdom domiciled | 371415 | 7975 | 26860 | 26790 | 256830 | 52960 | 8945 |
Non-United Kingdom domiciled | 117590 | 7345 | 57355 | 5915 | 40405 | 6570 | 625 |
Part-time | 187455 | 4010 | 32025 | 33735 | 37655 | 80035 | 5405 |
United Kingdom domiciled | 170860 | 3005 | 25190 | 30975 | 34685 | 77005 | 5290 |
Non-United Kingdom domiciled | 16595 | 1005 | 6835 | 2760 | 2965 | 3030 | 115 |
All students | 676460 | 19330 | 116240 | 66440 | 334890 | 139560 | 14975 |
Percentage of all qualifications | 100.0% | 2.9% | 17.2% | 9.8% | 49.5% | 20.6% | 2.2% |
United Kingdom domiciled | 542275 | 10980 | 52050 | 57770 | 291520 | 129965 | 14235 |
Non-United Kingdom domiciled | 134185 | 8350 | 64190 | 8670 | 43370 | 9600 | 740 |
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 5. Percentages are not subject to rounding. |
Table L provides a breakdown of the class of award for first degree qualifications.
Table L - First degree classifications by mode, domicile and gender 2007/08 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total first degree | First class | Upper second class | Lower second class | Third class/Pass | Unclassified | |
Total full-time(#2) | 297235 | 37435 | 136860 | 84805 | 18980 | 19075 |
Percentage of classified degrees | - | 13.5% | 49.2% | 30.5% | 6.8% | - |
United Kingdom domiciled(#2) | 256830 | 32435 | 122100 | 71715 | 14505 | 16030 |
Female | 147685 | 17945 | 73840 | 39490 | 6830 | 9565 |
Male | 109100 | 14485 | 48250 | 32210 | 7660 | 6465 |
Non-United Kingdom domiciled(#2) | 40405 | 5000 | 14760 | 13090 | 4475 | 3045 |
Female | 20200 | 2505 | 8155 | 6415 | 1820 | 1285 |
Male | 20165 | 2495 | 6600 | 6650 | 2650 | 1760 |
Total part-time(#2) | 37655 | 3715 | 11405 | 10340 | 5010 | 7180 |
Percentage of classified degrees | - | 12.2% | 37.4% | 33.9% | 16.4% | - |
United Kingdom domiciled(#2) | 34685 | 3580 | 10660 | 9185 | 4375 | 6885 |
Female | 21740 | 2210 | 6985 | 5735 | 2480 | 4335 |
Male | 12930 | 1365 | 3675 | 3450 | 1890 | 2550 |
Non-United Kingdom domiciled(#2) | 2965 | 135 | 745 | 1160 | 635 | 295 |
Female | 1420 | 65 | 375 | 565 | 260 | 150 |
Male | 1545 | 70 | 370 | 595 | 370 | 145 |
All students(#2) | 334890 | 41150 | 148265 | 95145 | 23990 | 26260 |
Percentage of classified degrees | - | 13.3% | 48.1% | 30.8% | 7.8% | - |
United Kingdom domiciled(#2) | 291520 | 36015 | 132760 | 80895 | 18880 | 22920 |
Percentage of classified degrees | - | 13.4% | 49.4% | 30.1% | 7.0% | - |
Female | 169425 | 20155 | 80825 | 45220 | 9310 | 13900 |
Male | 122030 | 15855 | 51925 | 35660 | 9545 | 9020 |
Non-United Kingdom domiciled(#2) | 43370 | 5135 | 15505 | 14245 | 5110 | 3340 |
Percentage of classified degrees | - | 12.8% | 38.8% | 35.6% | 12.8% | - |
Female | 21620 | 2575 | 8530 | 6980 | 2080 | 1435 |
Male | 21710 | 2560 | 6965 | 7245 | 3020 | 1905 |
All domiciles(#2) | 334890 | 41150 | 148265 | 95145 | 23990 | 26260 |
Female | 191045 | 22730 | 89355 | 52200 | 11390 | 15335 |
Percentage of classified degrees | - | 12.9% | 50.9% | 29.7% | 6.5% | - |
Male | 143740 | 18415 | 58890 | 42900 | 12570 | 10920 |
Percentage of classified degrees | - | 13.9% | 44.4% | 32.3% | 9.5% | - |
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 5. Percentages are not subject to rounding. | ||||||
# see relevant footnote in Notes to tables. |
Of students who obtained a classified first degree, 13.3% were awarded First Class Honours and 61.4% 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 Honours did not depend heavily on any of these factors, but the proportion of Upper Second Class Honours was substantially greater for female students than for male students, and similarly for UK students compared to non-UK students and for full-time students compared to part-time students.
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(#1) awarded first or upper second class honours as a percentage of classified degrees 2007/08 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Percentages | |||
First class | Upper second | First or upper second | |
Subjects allied to medicine | 15.1 | 45.4 | 60.5 |
Biological sciences | 12.2 | 50.0 | 62.1 |
Agriculture & related subjects | 12.9 | 43.7 | 56.6 |
Physical sciences | 19.9 | 43.9 | 63.8 |
Mathematical sciences | 29.1 | 35.7 | 64.8 |
Computer science | 16.6 | 36.2 | 52.8 |
Engineering & technology | 21.5 | 41.0 | 62.6 |
Architecture, building & planning | 11.5 | 44.7 | 56.2 |
Social studies | 10.7 | 51.9 | 62.5 |
Law | 6.7 | 51.3 | 58.0 |
Business & administrative studies | 9.4 | 43.1 | 52.4 |
Mass communications & documentation | 9.5 | 52.3 | 61.8 |
Languages | 14.7 | 59.3 | 74.0 |
Historical & philosophical studies | 13.8 | 61.2 | 75.0 |
Creative arts & design | 14.2 | 49.5 | 63.6 |
Education | 9.6 | 46.3 | 55.9 |
Combined | 10.9 | 42.5 | 53.4 |
Total - Non-clinical subjects | 13.3 | 48.1 | 61.4 |
Supplementary subject information(1) | |||
Psychology | 11.6 | 56.8 | 68.4 |
Geography | 10.8 | 55.9 | 66.7 |
Economics & politics | 13.8 | 53.6 | 67.4 |
English | 13.9 | 58.6 | 72.5 |
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. |
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 Honours) without adjusting for subject choice.
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, region of institution and level of study 2007/08 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Region of institution | |||||||
Total United Kingdom | London | England (other regions) | England total | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | |
First degree | 974720 | 139480 | 651185 | 790665 | 56575 | 100040 | 27445 |
London | 152940 | 86880 | 62660 | 149540 | 1485 | 1875 | 45 |
England (other regions) | 643555 | 49210 | 559095 | 608305 | 23190 | 11840 | 220 |
England total | 796495 | 136090 | 621755 | 757845 | 24670 | 13715 | 265 |
Wales | 47495 | 1570 | 14415 | 15990 | 31105 | 390 | 10 |
Scotland | 86810 | 705 | 4190 | 4900 | 145 | 81725 | 40 |
Northern Ireland | 39200 | 540 | 7270 | 7810 | 275 | 4040 | 27075 |
Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man | 3315 | 265 | 2760 | 3025 | 160 | 125 | 5 |
UK unknown | 1405 | 310 | 790 | 1100 | 220 | 40 | 50 |
Other undergraduate | 111920 | 21420 | 77010 | 98430 | 3580 | 9190 | 720 |
London | 17460 | 14200 | 3180 | 17380 | 55 | 20 | 0 |
England (other regions) | 80000 | 6775 | 72240 | 79015 | 745 | 240 | 0 |
England total | 97460 | 20975 | 75420 | 96395 | 800 | 265 | 0 |
Wales | 3560 | 105 | 730 | 835 | 2715 | 10 | 0 |
Scotland | 9165 | 80 | 320 | 395 | 15 | 8755 | 0 |
Northern Ireland | 1125 | 75 | 240 | 320 | 5 | 85 | 720 |
Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man | 135 | 15 | 115 | 130 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
UK unknown | 470 | 170 | 185 | 355 | 40 | 70 | 5 |
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 5. |
757,845 out of 796,495 (95.1%) full-time first degree students domiciled in England studied in their country of domicile; the corresponding figures for Wales were 31,105 out of 47,495 (65.5%), for Scotland 81,725 out of 86,810 (94.1%), and for Northern Ireland 27,075 out of 39,200 (69.1%).
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 two-thirds of outwards mobility from Northern Ireland was to England, with almost all the balance to Scotland.
Within England, again for full-time first degree students, the flow into London was 49,210 and the flow out of London was 62,660, not greatly different in absolute terms, which means that there was proportionately much more mobility out of London to other regions of England (41.0% of the London total) than in the reverse direction (7.6% of the total for other regions of England). The table in the main body of the volume provides a full breakdown of mobility between English regions.
There was less mobility between administrations at the level of full-time ‘Other undergraduate’ programmes than at the first degree level, except, in 2007/08 for the first time, in the case of Northern Ireland: the corresponding percentages for study in the country of domicile were 98.9% for England, 76.3% for Wales, 95.5% for Scotland, and 63.8% for Northern Ireland.
Offshore provision
‘Offshore provision’ is the term used to describe study taking place entirely outside the UK, but where the students either are registered at a UK HEI, or are registered with a partner organisation in the country of study but are working towards a qualification awarded by a UK HEI ; such students are termed ‘offshore students’. It is thought that the volume of offshore provision has substantially increased in recent years, but quantitative evidence has not been available. Up to and including 2006/07, data on offshore students was collected at the individual level through the HESA student data collection, using a simplified record structure (a ‘reduced record’), but submission of this part of the collection was optional for institutions, and it was known from other evidence that the reported total of just under 80,000 offshore students greatly underestimated the total level of activity. Because of this, HESA did not include material on offshore provision in the student volume.
One outcome of the review of the student record for 2007/08 onwards was the discontinuation of the use of a reduced record for offshore students, since that level of detail was not required. A separate aggregate collection was designed to obtain the required data. Government departments in the four administrations then decided that the financial and reputational significance of offshore provision to UK HEIs individually, and to the UK HE system as a whole, meant that for policy purposes it was necessary to have full coverage, and to achieve this they decided to use their powers under legislation to make that aggregate collection mandatory. In consequence, it is now possible for the first time to publish information on offshore provision.
Table O - Students studying wholly overseas by location, type and level of provision 2007/08 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Level of provision | |||||||
Total all levels | Total HE level | Postgraduate (research) | Postgraduate (taught) | First degree | Other undergraduate | Further education | |
Within the European Union | |||||||
Students registered at a UK HEI | 36330 | 36330 | 510 | 14385 | 19110 | 2330 | 0 |
Overseas campus of reporting HEI | 370 | 370 | 20 | 355 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Distance, flexible or distributed learning | 24070 | 24070 | 280 | 9950 | 11935 | 1900 | 0 |
Other arrangement including collaborative provision | 11890 | 11890 | 205 | 4080 | 7175 | 430 | 0 |
Students studying for an award of a UK HEI(1) | 10040 | 10040 | 90 | 2660 | 7115 | 180 | 0 |
Overseas partner organisation | 10035 | 10035 | 90 | 2655 | 7115 | 180 | 0 |
Other arrangement | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Outside the European Union | |||||||
Students registered at a UK HEI | 131075 | 131040 | 795 | 37805 | 84930 | 7510 | 35 |
Overseas campus of reporting HEI | 6755 | 6715 | 100 | 1615 | 4230 | 775 | 35 |
Distance, flexible or distributed learning | 76290 | 76290 | 580 | 30775 | 39365 | 5570 | 0 |
Other arrangement including collaborative provision | 48030 | 48030 | 110 | 5415 | 41335 | 1170 | 0 |
Students studying for an award of a UK HEI(1) | 19305 | 19230 | 150 | 5040 | 13575 | 465 | 75 |
Overseas partner organisation | 19215 | 19140 | 90 | 5015 | 13575 | 465 | 75 |
Other arrangement | 90 | 90 | 60 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 196750 | 196640 | 1535 | 59890 | 124725 | 10485 | 110 |
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 5. | |||||||
(1) Students who are not registered at a UK HEI. |
Table O provides a breakdown by level of study and by the nature of the relationship with the student, and is disaggregated between EU and non-EU provision, where the patterns of provision differ materially. In 2007/08 there were 0 FE-level offshore students studying within the EU, and 110 outside it. All subsequent analysis relates to HE-level offshore students only, of which there were 46,370 (23.6%) studying within the EU, and 150,265 (76.4%) outside it, a total of 196,640. Of those studying within the EU, 78.3% were registered with a UK HEI, and this rose to 87.2% for those studying outside the EU. For study both within the EU (51.9%) and outside it (50.8%), distance learning was the commonest form of relationship, all such students being registered with a UK HEI. Although the development of overseas campuses has attracted considerable publicity, they accounted for small absolute numbers of offshore students, only 370 within the EU and 6,715 outside it. The proportion of offshore students studying at postgraduate level was 38.0% within the EU and 28.7% outside it; very few of these were research students.
Table P - Students studying wholly overseas by location (top 20 countries) and level of provision 2007/08 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Level of provision | |||||||
Total all levels | Total HE level | Postgraduate (research) | Postgraduate (taught) | First degree | Other undergraduate | Further education | |
Canada | 2050 | 2050 | 35 | 1335 | 620 | 60 | 0 |
China | 10530 | 10450 | 55 | 1875 | 8450 | 70 | 75 |
Egypt | 3500 | 3500 | 5 | 475 | 2980 | 35 | 0 |
Germany | 5350 | 5350 | 55 | 2190 | 2845 | 260 | 0 |
Greece | 9575 | 9575 | 35 | 4050 | 5155 | 340 | 0 |
Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) | 21280 | 21280 | 165 | 5170 | 15640 | 305 | 0 |
India | 4930 | 4930 | 15 | 2325 | 2435 | 160 | 0 |
Ireland | 8980 | 8980 | 80 | 2635 | 5755 | 515 | 0 |
Israel | 4455 | 4455 | 45 | 1525 | 2880 | 0 | 0 |
Malaysia | 20525 | 20525 | 105 | 2610 | 16560 | 1250 | 0 |
Oman | 6240 | 6240 | 5 | 765 | 5075 | 395 | 0 |
Romania | 2525 | 2525 | 0 | 760 | 1760 | 5 | 0 |
Russia | 9545 | 9545 | 0 | 2610 | 6835 | 100 | 0 |
Singapore | 20845 | 20845 | 70 | 2940 | 16570 | 1260 | 0 |
Spain | 4880 | 4880 | 15 | 370 | 4400 | 95 | 0 |
Sri Lanka | 2955 | 2955 | 5 | 460 | 2190 | 300 | 0 |
Switzerland | 2855 | 2855 | 10 | 1475 | 1200 | 170 | 0 |
Trinidad & Tobago | 8605 | 8605 | 25 | 1535 | 6055 | 990 | 0 |
United Arab Emirates | 4220 | 4180 | 40 | 2450 | 1355 | 340 | 35 |
United States | 2180 | 2180 | 95 | 1360 | 545 | 185 | 0 |
Total | 156025 | 155915 | 860 | 38905 | 109310 | 6840 | 110 |
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 5. |
Table P shows the breakdown by level of study for the twenty countries with the greatest level of offshore provision. Between them, they accounted for four-fifths of the offshore provision. Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), Singapore and Malaysia, with over 20,000 offshore students each, were by far the largest sources of offshore students.
1 Non-statutory publications omit any contribution from individuals who have notified HESA of their wish to be excluded in circumstances such as the publication of the present volume where inclusion is not defined as a requirement by the bodies whose statutory powers underpin HESA data collection.
2 These figures do not include students on directly funded foundation degree programmes at FECs, so are not a measure of the total uptake of Foundation Degree programmes.
3 Except where Guernsey, Jersey and Isle of Man students have been separated out explicitly, they have been included in UK figures.
4 This number is lower than in recently preceding years because some of the most heavily ‘mixed-economy’ HEIs in England no longer report their FE student numbers through HESA.
The Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey include between them the minor Channel Islands.