Research
HESA’s core mission is to support the advancement of higher education across all nations of the UK through the data it collects, assures and disseminates.
Our Research strategy describes how we undertake research to advance public knowledge and understanding of UK higher education, and to improve our own outputs in the public interest.
Our review of the Impact of research illustrates how we are meeting those aims and aspirations.
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Degree attainment by socioeconomic background: UK, 2017/18 to 2020/21
New experimental statistics show disparities in degree attainment between most and least deprived areas narrowed during COVID in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but widened in Wales.
Open data licence: CC-BY-4.0Parental education data: Can we ever know why students might respond ‘I don’t know’?
Lead Statistical AnalystHESA researchers explore whether family composition may be a factor that explains why some students respond with ‘I don’t know’ when asked about the qualifications attained by their parents in the UCAS form.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on 2021/22 Student data
Lead Policy & Research AnalystThis research insight considers the effects of the pandemic on entry rates, mobility, and qualifications.
Getting a move on: The creation of a new graduate mobility marker
Head of Solutions DevelopmentIn this insight, HESA researchers introduce a new geographical mobility marker and explore the added value it could bring when examining graduate trajectories/outcomes.
Using Census data to derive a new area-based measure of deprivation - Summary
Principal Researcher (Economist)New working paper provides further analysis of HESA's new measure of disadvantage.
Graduate wellbeing: How does the design and nature of work relate to life evaluations and present emotions?
Principal Researcher (Economist)In this insight, HESA researchers explore whether there are any differences in how a particular aspect of employment quality is associated with various measures of wellbeing.
Ready for the weekend? How data relating to the Graduate Outcomes survey process can be used in assessing the validity of subjective wellbeing information
Principal Researcher (Economist)In this insight, HESA researchers examine the association between the day of the week the Graduate Outcomes survey was submitted and different measures of wellbeing.
Keeping track: Can linking higher education records tell us anything about the quality of parental education data?
Lead Statistical AnalystFirst-in-family data has been the subject of discussion within the sector over the past year. In this piece, HESA assess the quality of the parental education information we collect.
Assessing the quality of further and interim study data collected in the Graduate Outcomes survey
Research comparing the answers provided by survey respondents about further and interim study with data from the HESA Student record.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Graduate Outcomes 2019/20
Lead Policy & Research AnalystThe majority of Graduate Outcomes survey respondents graduated in summer 2020 as restrictions were easing from the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. These cohorts were surveyed in Autumn 2021 when case numbers were high and the vaccination programme underway.