Data intelligence

The University of Cambridge does not classify its bachelor of arts degree, but awards classes in the Tripos (honours) examination usually taken at the end of each academic year. The class of degree recorded in the HESA record in and after 2003/04 is the result obtained in the student's final year.

In 2013/14, Bournemouth University changed its assessment regulations so that resits/resubmits are now capped at element level (i.e. coursework, exam, practical) rather than at the whole unit level. This revised approach has contributed to the increased percentage share of those student obtaining a first degree with first class or upper second class honours. The percentage of students achieving a first class honours has risen from 12.0% (2013/13) to 16.3% (2013/14), and the percentage of students achieving an upper second class honours has risen from 52.6% (2013/13) to 59.2% (2013/14).

In 2013/14, Southampton Solent University incorrectly awarded 40 continuing Law students with a first degree qualification and classification.

N.B. The figures for Southampton Solent University have been updated and are now correct in the 2013/14 v1502 student record.

In 2013/14, University of Ulster reallocated 3,610 students (2,897 FTE) to collaborative/franchised provision, as these students were taught on the campuses of their partner provider and by staff of the partner provider. In previous years these students were coded as being taught wholly at University of Ulster.

In 2013/14, the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne has seen an increase of 738 FTE to cost centre Economics & econometrics, from 16 in 2012/13 to 754 in 2013/14.  This was due to the majority of FTE for this cost centre being returned under Business & management studies in 2012/13 in error, which has now been corrected for 2013/14.

In 2013/14, Cardiff University had a significant increase in students studying within the Education subject area, from 980 in 2012/13 to 1,450 in 2013/14.  This was due to the start of a new Master's programme in Educational Practice.

In 2013/14, The University of Edinburgh had a significant decrease (18%) in the number of full-time first degree qualifiers.  The university planned for and recruited a much smaller cohort of home and EU students in 2010/11 leading to the smaller number of graduates in 2013/14.  This decision impacted on the recruitment in one academic year, but was made to enable a more consistent number of places to be available to new applicants in the years since.

In 2013/14, The University of Brighton had a significant decrease in the qualifications awarded for full-time foundation degree qualifiers (405 qualifiers representing a 75% decrease from 2012/13). This is due to the transfer of previously franchised provision to their partner providers.  Although they still validate the awards, the students now belong to their partner provider.

From 2010/11 to 2016/17 the University of Plymouth has had a significant reduction (a drop of 94%, approx. 8400 students) in their franchised student numbers following a change in guidance from HEFCE regarding the reporting of partnership arrangements.

In 2013/14, Cardiff Metropolitan University had a significant increase in their full-time postgraduate taught student numbers from 2,245 in 2012/13 to 3,275 in 2013/14. This was largely due to a significant increase in recruitment to their franchise partners.

In 2013/14, The City University recorded a significant increase in its full-time postgraduate taught students numbers, from 3,705 in 2012/13 to 5,585 in 2013/14. This was mainly due to improving the recording practice for full-time Master's students on 13+ month courses, which were previously coded to part-time after the first 12 months of their course. This also affected their full-time postgraduate taught qualifications awarded, which increased from 1,175 in 2012/13 to 3,100 in 2013/14.  A corresponding decrease in part-time postgraduate taught qualifications awarded can also be seen.

In 2013/14, Teesside University had a significant reduction in the numbers of students studying within the subject group Subjects allied to medicine: from 6,530 in 2012/13 to 5,270 in 2013/14. This was partly due to the following courses no longer running;

• BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science (Top-up)
• Diploma in Nursing Studies
• BSc (Hons) Practice Innovation (Top-up)
• Foundation Degree Health & Social Care Practice

In addition, following the change in fee regime, the University has continued to see a decline in enrolments on part-time, short awards in health-related subjects

In 2013/14, several HE providers continued to re-classify their nursing courses from a diploma of HE to a first degree. The 2013/14 data shows a 7% rise from 2012/13 in first degree nursing students (12% for full-time first degree nursing students) and a 21% drop in other undergraduate nursing students (60% for full-time other undergraduate nursing students).

In 2013/14, The University of West London had a significant reduction in the number of part-time other undergraduate qualifications awarded, from 1095 in 2012/13 to 345 in 2013/14.  This was largely due to the award offered for post-registration nursing courses changing from an award to credits.

In 2013/14, University of Ulster had a significant reduction in the number of part-time other undergraduate qualifiers, from 1,495 in 2012/13 to 685 in 2013/14.This was mainly due to the cessation of a part-time certificate in Credit Union Studies.

In 2013/14, SRUC had a significant increase to their full-time other undergraduate qualifiers, from 90 in 2012/13 to 435 in 2013/14.  This was due to the merger of the former Barony, Elmwood and Oatridge Colleges and SAC to form SRUC.

In 2013/14, the HE sector has seen a significant reduction in part-time student numbers: 54,805 (8%). 91% (49,835) of these were undergraduate students.

This pattern also continues with qualifications awarded in 2013/14, with a 21,910 (12%) reduction in part-time qualifications awarded. For other undergraduate qualifiers this was a significantly higher proportion, a 27% (16,695) reduction.

The Open University – undergraduates
The Open University has had significant reductions in undergraduate student numbers, particularly in England due to the continuing impact of the new funding regime for part-time undergraduate students introduced in 2012/13. This affects all categories of undergraduate students, but the impact is greater for other undergraduate students than for first degree students.

The Open University – undergraduate qualifiers
The Open University has had a drop in other undergraduate qualifications awarded. This reflects a restructuring of the undergraduate curriculum and changes to the qualification registration process in 2012/13, and the withdrawal of many undergraduate certificates and diplomas, along with an overall drop in student numbers, in particular in England following funding regime changes for part-time undergraduate students in 2012/13.

Coventry University has also seen a significant decrease in their part-time other undergraduate awards which are down by 82% (2,735), their decline has particularly been seen in their employer engagement programmes.

In 2013/14, Coventry University had a significant decrease in students  (57%, 2,205 students) studying part-time, other undergraduate programmes. This is due to a significant change in the portfolio of part-time undergraduate level courses on offer, following a review of existing short CPD programmes at a partner provider and the end of the co-funded employer engagement programmes.

In 2013/14, Edge Hill University had a significant reduction in their part-time postgraduate taught students from 4,655 in 2012/13 to 2,975 in 2013/14. This was primarily due to a reduction in broad reach NCTL funded professional development activity and most effected the Education subject area.

The University of York was incorrectly setting end dates for postgraduate taught students prior to 2012/13 using award date as opposed to the required date at which students completed the structured/ taught part of instance. Data submitted in 2012/13 is using the correct end date.  This has impacted on their Postgraduate taught student instance count population for this year’s return (decreasing by 1140).

In the 2013/14 HESA Student return, University of Ulster incorrectly coded 175 nursing students, mostly full time, with a qualification of a first degree. These students have all been correctly and legitimately awarded first degrees and graduated in December 2014. The issue is one of timing, as these students were active in September 2014 and should not have had qualifications included in the HESA Student return for 2013/14. These qualifications will be removed from the 2013/14 Student return and included in the 2014/15 Student return.

In addition to the above, 25 students, mostly part-time from a range of subjects, were incorrectly coded with a qualification of a Master's degree. These qualifications will be removed from the 2013/14 Student return and will be included in the 2014/15 Student return.

N.B. This has been updated and is now correct in the 2013/14 v1502 Student record.

The Open University in 2013/14 has seen a decrease in the number of new student instances of study (21%), considerably larger than the decrease in new students (individuals) (6%). HESA data counts instances of study rather than individual students.

The larger decrease in instance count is mainly reflective of changing behaviour of continuing students following the funding regime changes in 2012/13 and changes to university systems which impact on the number of new instances created for continuing students. There is a decreasing tendency for returning students to resume study towards a new qualification, i.e. on a new instance. Changes to the university’s HESA reporting systems mean e.g. that students gaining an intermediate qualification on the way to getting a first degree are reported on the same instance rather than a new instance as in previous years.