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HESA electronic publication 'Students in Higher Education Institutions 2010/11' released today

Students in Higher Education Institutions 2010/11 shows that there were 2,501,295 students in higher education in the UK in 2010/11. Of these 2,073,070 (82.9%) were UK domicile students, 130,120 (5.2%) were from other EU member countries and 298,110 (11.9%) were from non-EU countries.

The table below shows the rate of change of student numbers by domicile. The total number of students rose by 0.3% from 2009/10 to 2010/11. However the number of UK domicile students fell by 0.7% and the overall increase was entirely due to higher numbers of non-UK domiciled students.

Students at UK HE institutions by domicile 2009/10 and 2010/11
Domicile 2009/10 2010/11 % change
UK 2087615 2073070 -0.7%
Non-UK 405805 428225 5.5%
   Other EU 125045 130120 4.1%
   Non-EU 280760 298110 6.2%
Total 2493415 2501295 0.3%
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009/10, 2010/11
See Annex below for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland figures.

The map below shows the countries of domicile of non-UK students studying at UK HEIs. More details about student numbers from the top ten non-EU and top ten EU countries are given in the tables below.

Non-UK domicile students at UK HEIs by country of domicile

Non-EU countries

Students from China and India accounted for over 35% of all non-EU domicile students at UK HE institutions in 2010/11. The table below shows the growth in numbers of students from the top ten non-EU countries of domicile from 2009/10 to 2010/11.

Top ten non-EU countries of domicile in 2010/11 for HE students in UK Higher Education Institutions
Country of domicile 2009/10 2010/11 % change
China 56990 67325 18.1%
India 38500 39090 1.5%
Nigeria 16680 17585 5.4%
United States 15060 15555 3.3%
Malaysia 14060 13900 -1.1%
Hong Kong 9945 10440 4.9%
Saudi Arabia 8340 10270 23.1%
Pakistan 9815 10185 3.7%
Thailand 5505 5945 8.0%
Canada 5575 5905 5.9%
All other non-EU countries 100290 101915 1.6%
Total non-EU domicile 280760 298110 6.2%
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009/10, 2010/11
See Annex below for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland figures
See Press Release 155 and Press Release 144 for previous years' data

Other EU countries

The number of students from other EU countries also continued to rise between 2009/10 and 2010/11. The table below shows the growth in numbers of students from the top ten other EU countries of domicile in 2010/11. Romania enters the top ten in 2010/11 for the first time, overtaking the Netherlands.

Top ten other EU countries of domicile in 2010/11 for HE students in UK Higher Education Institutions
Country of domicile 2009/10 2010/11 % change
Ireland 16595 16855 1.5%
Germany 15425 16265 5.4%
France 13780 13325 -3.3%
Greece 11785 11630 -1.3%
Cyprus 11160 11320 1.4%
Poland 8415 7330 -12.9%
Italy 6550 7100 8.4%
Spain 5720 5795 1.3%
Romania 3190 4625 44.9%
Bulgaria 3395 4615 35.9%
All Other EU countries 29020 31265 7.7%
Total other EU domicile 125045 130120 4.1%
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009/10, 2010/11
See Annex below for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland figures

Level and mode of study

Just under half of all non-UK domicile students in 2010/11 were studying for postgraduate qualifications. The majority of full-time postgraduate students were non-UK domicile. The table below shows the number of students by domicile, level of study and mode of study in 2010/11.

Students by domicile, level of study and mode of study 2010/11
  Postgraduate Undergraduate  
Domicile Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time All students
UK 132190 242840 1180105 517935 2073070
Non-UK 177820 35865 187225 27315 428225
   Other EU 36885 12910 69360 10960 130120
   Non-EU 140935 22955 117865 16355 298110
Total 310015 278705 1367330 545250 2501295
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2010/11
See Annex below for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland figures

Students in Higher Education Institutions 2010/11 includes comprehensive data on student domicile, level and mode of study, subjects of study, qualifications obtained, offshore provision, and more.

A schedule of HESA releases for 2012 can be found here.

Notes for editors

  1. Press enquiries should be directed to:
    • Simon Kemp
    • HESA Press Officer
    • 01242 211120
       
    • [email protected]
    • 95 Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1HZ.
  2. In the above data and annex tables 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 5.
  3. HESA student data is collected from all publicly funded Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the UK, plus the University of Buckingham, which is a non-publicly-funded institution. The 2010/11 data covers 164 HEIs (131 in England, 10 in Wales, 19 in Scotland and 4 in Northern Ireland).
  4. HESA cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived from the data by third parties.
  5. Equivalent tables for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland can be found in the Annex below.
  6. Equivalent tables for earlier years can be found in Press Release 155 and Press Release 144
  7. Tables showing the number of EU and non-EU domicile students per institution can be found here.
  8. Definitions of the terms used in this press release can be found on-line here.

Annex - equivalent tables for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

England

Students at HEIs in England by domicile 2009/10 and 2010/11
Domicile 2009/10 2010/11 % change
UK 1758675 1746065 -0.7%
Non-UK 334955 351155 4.8%
Other EU 98060 102700 4.7%
Non-EU 236900 248455 4.9%
Total 2093635 2097215 0.2%
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009/10, 2010/11
Top ten non-EU countries of domicile in 2010/11 for HE students at HEIs in England
Country of domicile 2009/10 2010/11 % change
China 48625 56990 17.2%
India 31195 30890 -1.0%
Nigeria 13525 14165 4.7%
Malaysia 12095 11950 -1.2%
United States 11100 11510 3.7%
Hong Kong 9105 9510 4.4%
Saudi Arabia 6975 8765 25.6%
Pakistan 8155 8120 -0.4%
Thailand 4955 5335 7.6%
Canada 4405 4640 5.3%
All other non-EU countries 86765 86580 -0.2%
Total non-EU domicile 236900 248455 4.9%
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009/10, 2010/11
Top ten other EU countries of domicile in 2010/11 for HE students at HEIs in England
Country of domicile 2009/10 2010/11 % change
Germany 11960 12550 4.9%
Cyprus 10760 10890 1.2%
France 10485 10720 2.3%
Greece 10170 10040 -1.3%
Ireland 8320 8495 2.1%
Italy 5750 6290 9.4%
Poland 6145 5350 -12.9%
Spain 4405 4775 8.3%
Romania 2835 4065 43.4%
Bulgaria 2885 3785 31.2%
All Other EU countries 24340 25740 5.8%
Total other EU domicile 98060 102700 4.7%
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009/10, 2010/11
Students at HEIs in England by domicile, level of study and mode of study 2010/11
  Postgraduate Undergraduate  
Domicile Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time All students
UK 109510 206760 970010 459785 1746065
Non-UK 147725 27400 155410 20620 351155
Other EU 30725 10130 54980 6860 102700
Non-EU 117000 17270 100425 13760 248455
Total 257235 234160 1125420 480405 2097215
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2010/11

Wales

Students at HEIs in Wales by domicile 2009/10 and 2010/11
Domicile 2009/10 2010/11 % change
UK 103855 104715 0.8%
Non-UK 24030 26290 9.4%
Other EU 6845 6455 -5.7%
Non-EU 17185 19835 15.4%
Total 127885 131005 2.4%
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009/10, 2010/11
Top ten non-EU countries of domicile in 2010/11 for HE students at HEIs in Wales
Country of domicile 2009/10 2010/11 % change
India 3915 4730 20.7%
China 3275 3690 12.7%
Pakistan 850 1160 36.4%
Nigeria 820 935 14.2%
Bangladesh 555 885 59.8%
Saudi Arabia 620 755 21.7%
Malaysia 675 680 0.1%
Sri Lanka 290 470 63.2%
Hong Kong 420 455 8.1%
United States 400 375 -6.5%
All other non-EU countries 5355 5695 6.3%
Total non-EU domicile 17185 19835 15.4%
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009/10, 2010/11
Top ten other EU countries of domicile in 2010/11 for HE students at HEIs in Wales
Country of domicile 2009/10 2010/11 % change
Germany 1165 1340 14.8%
Ireland 1195 1110 -7.0%
France 1135 930 -17.8%
Poland 605 500 -17.8%
Spain 780 470 -39.9%
Greece 445 440 -2.0%
Bulgaria 205 260 24.6%
Italy 190 165 -12.6%
Cyprus 120 125 5.8%
Netherlands 115 120 3.5%
All Other EU countries 890 1000 12.5%
Total other EU domicile 6845 6455 -5.7%
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009/10, 2010/11
Students at HEIs in Wales by domicile, level of study and mode of study 2010/11
  Postgraduate Undergraduate  
Domicile Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time All students
UK 6710 10040 65690 22275 104715
Non-UK 9420 4260 10005 2605 26290
Other EU 1125 695 2765 1870 6455
Non-EU 8295 3565 7245 730 19835
Total 16130 14295 75695 24880 131005
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2010/11

Scotland

Students at HEIs in Scotland by domicile 2009/10 and 2010/11
Domicile 2009/10 2010/11 % change
UK 179905 176885 -1.7%
Non-UK 41005 44190 7.8%
Other EU 15930 16310 2.4%
Non-EU 25075 27880 11.2%
Total 220910 221075 0.1%
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009/10, 2010/11
Top ten non-EU countries of domicile in 2010/11 for HE students at HEIs in Scotland
Country of domicile 2009/10 2010/11 % change
China 4680 6145 31.3%
United States 3325 3410 2.5%
India 3185 3290 3.4%
Nigeria 2280 2410 5.5%
Malaysia 1130 1080 -4.5%
Canada 890 975 9.2%
Pakistan 775 860 10.6%
Saudi Arabia 720 725 0.4%
Norway 525 600 13.9%
Taiwan 430 450 3.9%
All other non-EU countries 7125 7935 11.4%
Total non-EU domicile 25075 27880 11.2%
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009/10, 2010/11
Top ten other EU countries of domicile in 2010/11 for HE students at HEIs in Scotland
Country of domicile 2009/10 2010/11 % change
Ireland 3280 2965 -9.7%
Germany 2190 2280 4.2%
Cyprus 2100 1625 -22.7%
Poland 1630 1455 -10.9%
Greece 1145 1125 -1.7%
Lithuania 325 665 105.9%
Italy 580 615 6.0%
Bulgaria 300 565 88.6%
Sweden 490 550 11.8%
Spain 515 525 1.4%
All Other EU countries 3370 3945 17.0%
Total other EU domicile 15930 16310 2.4%
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009/10, 2010/11
Students at HEIs in Scotland by domicile, level of study and mode of study 2010/11
  Postgraduate Undergraduate  
Domicile Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time All students
UK 12255 21545 115325 27765 176885
Non-UK 18700 3080 20060 2345 44190
Other EU 3970 1065 10505 770 16310
Non-EU 14730 2020 9555 1575 27880
Total 30955 24625 135385 30110 221075
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2010/11

Northern Ireland

Students at HEIs in Northern Ireland by domicile 2009/10 and 2010/11
Domicile 2009/10 2010/11 % change
UK 45180 45405 0.5%
Non-UK 5810 6595 13.5%
Other EU 4210 4655 10.6%
Non-EU 1605 1945 21.2%
Total 50990 52000 2.0%
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009/10, 2010/11
Top ten non-EU countries of domicile in 2010/11 for HE students at HEIs in Northern Ireland
Country of domicile 2009/10 2010/11 % change
China 410 500 21.1%
United States 230 260 13.4%
Malaysia 155 195 24.2%
India 205 180 -13.6%
Nigeria 50 75 ..
Brunei 65 75 14.1%
Gambia 30 65 ..
Sri Lanka 10 55 ..
Hong Kong 40 50 ..
Canada 50 40 ..
All other non-EU countries 350 450 28.4%
Total non-EU domicile 1605 1945 21.2%
.. represents a percentage calculated on a population of 52 or fewer individuals.
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009/10, 2010/11
Top ten other EU countries of domicile in 2010/11 for HE students at HEIs in Northern Ireland
Country of domicile 2009/10 2010/11 % change
Ireland 3800 4285 12.8%
Germany 110 90 -16.4%
France 60 50 ..
Spain 20 30 ..
Greece 25 30 ..
Italy 30 25 ..
Poland 30 25 ..
Romania 15 15 ..
Belgium 10 15 ..
Netherlands 10 10 ..
All Other EU countries 100 75 -24.8%
Total other EU domicile 4210 4655 10.6%
.. represents a percentage calculated on a population of 52 or fewer individuals.
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2009/10, 2010/11
Students at HEIs in Northern Ireland by domicile, level of study and mode of study 2010/11
  Postgraduate Undergraduate  
Domicile Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time All students
UK 3715 4500 29080 8105 45405
Non-UK 1975 1125 1750 1745 6595
Other EU 1065 1020 1110 1455 4655
Non-EU 910 105 640 290 1945
Total 5690 5625 30830 9855 52000
Source: HESA Students in Higher Education Institutions 2010/11
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