Higher Education Student Statistics: Alternative Providers, 2017/18 - HE totality

How do students at APs fit into the totality of HE provision?

This section focuses on HE student numbers from data collected by HESA in both the Student and AP student records. In relation to the AP student record, those on designated courses only are reported below. The AP student record consists of APs in England, plus one AP in Scotland (see notes for further restrictions on the coverage of the AP student record).

Figure 13 includes additional information on HE student numbers at FE providers. This additional data has been supplied by UK funding councils and devolved administrations.

In 2017/18, there were 265 providers of the following types:

• 165 HE providers that reported data to the HESA student record;
• 3 FE colleges in Wales that reported data to the HESA student record; and
• 97 APs that reported data on designated courses to the HESA AP student record.

Figures 14 to 16 display information on HE students at all of these types of providers. Information on HE students at FE colleges outside of Wales are not collected by HESA and are excluded from the data below.

In 2017/18:

• Business & administrative studies was the most popular subject in HE, attracting 369,315 students.
• Veterinary science was the subject with fewest students, at 7,860.
• Among females, subjects allied to medicine was the top subject. This was also the subject with the highest number of part time students.

Figure 16 shows:

• UK students made up the largest proportion of enrolments in 2017/18, at 81%.
• Proportions of students from outside the UK varied by both level and mode of study.  Full-time postgraduate (taught) had the highest percentage from non-EU countries, at 45%.

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• Summary
• Student numbers and characteristics
• Where students come from, go to study and subjects studied
• Qualifications achieved
• HE totality
• Notes