Student enrolments on higher education courses at publicly funded higher education institutions in the United Kingdom for the academic year 1998/99

Introduction

This Press Notice has been produced by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) jointly with Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) statisticians. It provides provisional estimates of the numbers of student enrolments on higher education (HE) courses at higher education institutions (HEIs) in the United Kingdom, for the academic year 1998/99.

Key points

• The total number of HE enrolments at UK HEIs stands at 1,740,200 in 1998/99, an increase of 2% between 1997/98 and 1998/99. Between 1994/95 and 1998/99, UK HE enrolments at UK HEIs have increased by 13%.
• Postgraduate enrolments increased by 5%, first degree enrolments increased by 1% and other undergraduate enrolments increased by 2% between 1997/98 and 1998/99.
• 1,173,200 (or 67%) of all enrolments are full-time, an increase in numbers of 1% between 1997/98 and 1998/99. The number of part-time enrolments grew by 4% over the same period.
• The number of first year enrolments increased by 1% between 1997/98 and 1998/99, and grew by 9% between 1994/95 and 1998/99.
• Between 1997/98 and 1998/99, the number of enrolments of UK domiciled students increased by 2% while the numbers of EU domiciled enrolments increased by 6%. Over the same period the number of overseas domiciled students, other than in the European Union, increased by 1%.
• 54% of students in 1998/99 are female compared with 53% in 1997/98, and 50% in 1994/95.
• 641,200 (or 37%) of all enrolments are in science, an increase in numbers of 2% between 1997/98 and 1998/99, and an increase in numbers of 16% between 1994/95 and 1998/99.

Tables

Table 1 shows the number of first year/all year enrolments by level of course, mode of study and domicile for the academic years 1994/95 to 1998/99 - United Kingdom.

Table 2 contains information on enrolments in the years 1994/95 to 1998/99 sub-divided by domicile, level of course, gender and mode of study - United Kingdom.

Table 3 shows the subject areas of study for full-time and part-time enrolments by level of course for the years 1994/95 to 1998/99 - United Kingdom.

Table 4 gives the age profile for first year UK domiciled full-time and part-time enrolments by level of course for the years 1994/95 to 1998/99 - United Kingdom.

Notes to Editors

1. The statistics in this Press Notice are derived from data collected from publicly funded higher education institutions in the UK by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). The figures throughout the Press Notice exclude HE enrolments at further education (FE) colleges (estimated to be some 218,000 in 1997/98) because the data for 1998/99 are not yet available. Enrolments at the University of Buckingham and at private and independent HE colleges are also not included in the figures. In addition there are transfers from the FE to the HE sector taking place from year to year. Hence figures for the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and Norwich School of Art and Design are included from 1995/96 and figures for Cumbria College of Art and Design, Carlisle, are included from 1997/98, but not in the previous years. It should also be noted that a number of nursing colleges merged with higher education institutions in 1996.
2. Direct comparison of part-time student numbers between 1994/95 and later years is complicated by the fact that some universities and colleges have included continuing education students in their returns from 1995/96 onwards. This follows the introduction of different funding arrangements for such students.
3. The 1994/95 figures have been adjusted where necessary to allow for differences in reporting practices by some institutions between the years and in order to provide best estimates of student numbers and growth rates. The numbers in this press notice may therefore differ from those published elsewhere.
4. The 1996/97 figures presented are as reported to HESA in the 1996 December student record, apart from for one institution, where July 1997 data was used in place of December 1996 data. It should also be noted that figures presented for 1996/97 and 1997/98 have been subject to revision since the previous enrolments press release, PR22, published in April 1998.
5. Differences in reporting practices between 1995/96 and 1996/97 by some institutions may affect growth rates, particularly those for part-time students. Calculating part-time growth rates excluding the institution(s) concerned produce the following figures; part-time undergraduate growth rate +6.1%, part-time postgraduate growth rate +4.1%.
6. Because of changes in the reporting practices of a large part time provider, the numbers of part time students cannot be directly compared between 1996/97, 1997/98 and 1998/99. Growth rates between 1996/97 and 1997/98 which adjust for the changes during that period were published in the equivalent press release last year - PR22. Similarly, the growth rates between 1997/98 and 1998/99 which are shown in the tables in this press release adjust for the changes in reporting which affect these years.
7. A volume (Students in Higher Education Institutions, 1997/98) setting out more information about students in higher education in the UK will be published by HESA in June 1999. Another volume (Higher Education Statistics for the United Kingdom, 1997/98) containing broader information about higher education and prepared in conjunction with the Government Statistical Service will be published by HESA in September 1999.
8. In order to provide consistent comparisons between years, the student enrolment census count figures for 1995/96 to 1998/99 are derived from the December student record. The December student record provides interim figures in advance of the following July whole session student record. As a consequence, the census figures from the December student record may not necessarily match those from the corresponding July whole session student record.
   

   Definitions

9. Higher education students are those students on courses that are of a standard that is higher than the Advanced Level of the General Certificate of Education, the Higher Grade of the Scottish Certificate of Education, GNVQ/NVQ level 3 or the BTEC or SCOTVEC National Certificate/Diploma.
10. The 1998/99 figures reported in this Press Notice are counts of student enrolments as at 1 December 1998. Similarly the 1994/95 to 1997/98 figures are taken at a snapshot date of December.
11. First year students are those in their first year of study on a programme. In some cases the student's first year of study may be the second or subsequent year of a programme.

    From 1998/99, the basis for identifying first year students has changed. The numbers of first years in 1998/99 cannot therefore be directly compared with those for earlier years. In order to assist time series comparisons, however, the growth rates between 1997/98 and 1998/99 adjust for this change.

12. Level of course

    Postgraduate courses are those leading to higher degrees, and diplomas and certificates (including postgraduate certificates of education and professional qualifications) which usually require a first degree as entry qualification.

    First degrees include first degrees, first degrees with qualified teacher status, enhanced first degrees, first degrees obtained concurrently with a diploma, and intercalated first degrees.

    Other undergraduate includes all higher education courses not included above.

13. Mode of study

    1998/99:

    Full-time students include all students studying full-time (for more than or equal to 24 weeks in the academic year), students on thick or thin sandwich courses, and those on a study-related year out of their institution.

    Part-time students include those studying part-time, on block release, during the evenings only, or full-time less than 24 weeks.

    Students writing up theses, on sabbatical, or dormant are not included in the figures.

    Pre-1998/99:

    Full-time students include all students studying full-time (for more than 18 weeks in the academic year), students on thick or thin sandwich courses, and those on a study-related year out of their institution.

    Part-time students include those studying part-time, on block release, during the evenings only, or full-time less than or equal to 18 weeks.

    Students writing up theses, on sabbatical, or dormant are not included in the figures.

14. UK domiciled students are those normally resident in the United Kingdom, including those living in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. European Union (EU) students are those normally resident in countries which were EU members as at 1 December in the relevant academic year and in the designated territories thereof, for example, Gibraltar, French Guiana etc. On 1 January 1995 Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the EU and hence students from these countries are included in the EU figures for 1995/96 and subsequent years but not in the 1994/95 EU figures.
15. Age is as at 31 August within the relevant academic year.
16. In the tables, '1994' refers to the academic year 1994/95, '1995' refers to the academic

    year 1995/96, '1996' refers to the academic year 1996/97, '1997' refers to the academic

    year 1997/98 and '1998' refers to the academic year 1998/99.

    The definitions of the symbols used are:

    '0.0' zero

    '-' non-zero, less than the least significant figure shown

    '.' not applicable

17. Press enquiries should be directed to Jo Roper, Data Provision Officer at the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), 95 Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1HZ; Tel: 01242 255577. General enquiries about HESA data contained within this Press Release should be addressed to Lai Chow, Statistics Manager, at the same address.

Ends

Table 1 - Student Enrolments on Higher Education Courses by Year Of Study, Level Of Course, Mode Of Study (7) and Domicile, 1994/95 to 1998/99

• (1) See Notes to Editors 3.
• (2) See Notes to Editors 5.
• (3) See Notes to Editors 4.
• (4) See Notes to Editors 6.
• (5) The 1998/99 figures in this press release are provisional.
• (6) Excludes "Other" modes of study, ie students writing up theses or on sabbatical.
• (7) See Definitions 13.
• (8) See Definitions 11.
• (r) Denotes revised data.
• * The growth rates have been adjusted to enable consistent time series comparisons to be made and are not therefore derivable from the underlying data in the tables. See Notes to Editors 6 and Definitions 11.

Table 2 - Student Enrolments on Higher Education Courses by Domicile, Level Of Course, Gender and Mode Of Study (6), 1994/95 to 1998/99

• (1) See Notes to Editors 3.
• (2) See Notes to Editors 5.
• (3) See Notes to Editors 4.
• (4) See Notes to Editors 6.
• (5) The 1998/99 figures in this press release are provisional.
• (6) See Definitions 13.
• (r) Denotes revised data.
• * The growth rates have been adjusted to enable consistent time series comparisons to be made and are not therefore derivable from the underlying data in the tables. See Notes to Editors 6.

Table 3 - Student Enrolments on Higher Education Courses by Mode Of Study (6), Level Of Course and Subject Area, 1994/95 to 1998/99

• (1) See Notes to Editors 3.
• (2) See Notes to Editors 5.
• (3) See Notes to Editors 4.
• (4) See Notes to Editors 6.
• (5) The 1998/99 figures in this press release are provisional.
• (6) See Definitions 13.
• (r) Denotes revised data.
• * The growth rates have been adjusted to enable consistent time series comparisons to be made and are not therefore derivable from the underlying data in the tables. See Notes to Editors 6.

Table 4 - First Year (8) UK Domiciled Student Enrolments on Higher Education Courses by Mode Of Study (7), Age and Level Of Course, 1994/95 to 1998/99

• (1) See Notes to Editors 3.
• (2) See Notes to Editors 5.
• (3) See Notes to Editors 4.
• (4) See Notes to Editors 6.
• (5) The 1998/99 figures in this press release are provisional.
• (6) Includes unknown ages.
• (7) See Definitions 13.
• (8) See Definitions 11.
• (r) Denotes revised data.
• * The growth rates have been adjusted to enable consistent time series comparisons to be made and are not therefore derivable from the underlying data in the tables. See Notes to Editors 6 and Definitions 11.