How many students are at APs?
The total number of HE students on designated courses at APs in the 2016/17 record stood at 58,735. In 2016/17, for the first time, students on Masters taught designated courses delivered by APs with degree awarding powers have been included in the figures (see notes for further details).
Figure 1 shows that there has been a decrease of 2% in the number of undergraduate students on designated courses between 2015/16 and 2016/17, equating to a drop of 950 students. This varied by level of study, with the largest decrease seen at HNC/HND level. Student numbers on first degree and foundation degree courses increased between 2015/16 and 2016/17.
The number of undergraduate students on designated courses studying part-time has dropped by 18% between 2015/16 and 2016/17 to 5,840. In comparison, the number of undergraduate students on designated courses studying full-time has increased by 1%, to 46,090 in 2016/17.
Figure 1 - Alternative provider student enrolments by level of study
2015/16 to 2016/17
Who are AP students?
Figure 2 shows that there was a small gap in the sex of students on designated courses at APs, however this differed by level and mode of study. In 2016/17, 51% of full-time students and 57% of part-time students were female. In comparison, 56% of full-time students and 60% of part-time students at publicly funded HE providers were female (source: HESA).
Age patterns also differed by level and mode of study. A high number of students on designated courses at APs were aged 30 and over, representing 40% of the population in 2016/17. Amongst postgraduate taught students, the percentage in this age range was lower, at 27%. There were 38% of full-time and 48% of part-time students aged 30 and over in 2016/17. In comparison, 9% of full-time and 61% of part-time students at publicly funded HE providers were aged 30 and over. At the lower end of the age groups, 25% of full-time and 5% of part-time students on designated courses at APs were aged 20 and under in 2016/17. This compares with 51% of full-time and 6% of part-time students at publicly funded HE providers (source: HESA).
Information on the ethnicity of students as seen in figure 2 shows that 54% of full-time UK domiciled students on designated courses at APs were Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) in 2016/17. In comparison, 29% of part-time UK domiciled students on designated courses were BME. At publicly funded HE providers 25% of full-time and 17% of part-time UK domiciled students were BME (source: HESA).
Figure 2 - Alternative provider student enrolments on designated courses by personal characteristics
2015/16 to 2016/17
Next: Where students come from, go to study and subjects studied
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