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. We undertake research to advance public knowledge and understanding of UK higher education, and to improve our own outputs in the public interest.
Quality matters: The Census and HESA Widening Participation data
Using Census statistics to assess the quality of HESA's parental education and socio-economic classification data.
Published 2021-03-16
Higher education outcomes: How career satisfaction among graduates varies by ethnicity
Black graduates are less likely to report being satisfied with their career relative to White graduates.
Published 2020-09-22
Should we weight? Year one of the Graduate Outcomes survey
Investigation into whether or how results of Graduate Outcomes survey should be weighted in published statistics.
Published 2020-05-21
How does the return to a degree vary by class of award?
Graduates with a first or upper second class degree earn more, relative to non-graduates, than their peers with lower class degrees.
Published 2020-03-10
The return to a degree: New evidence based on the birth cohort studies and the Labour Force Survey
Graduates born in 1990 earned 11% more than non-graduates at age 26, compared to the 19% graduate premium enjoyed by graduates born in 1970.
Published 2019-10-22
Year 0: A foundation for widening participation?
Foundation years could be a useful way to help disadvantaged mature learners return to study.
Published 2019-05-16
Research Update: Part-time data analysis from HESA and CFE Research
Part-time provision for UK undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Published 2018-02-27
Getting rich quick: Is studying economics the key to a high salary?
There is an earnings premium for being based in London’s financial centre, where a considerable proportion of qualified economists work.
Published 2017-11-08