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HE Student data is latest HESA open data

HESA publishes the HE Student data 2016/17 on Thursday 8 February 2018. As one of our most anticipated annual products, we know its vital to make the data accessible, useful, and of the highest quality. And now, it is also free of charge. Jonathan Waller, HESA’s Director of Information & Analysis, provides an update on the new format of this data and its important place in HESA’s Open Data Strategy.

The continuing evolution of open data at HESA

A 2016 public consultation strongly supported HESA’s aim to publish non-personal and non-commercially-sensitive data as open data by 2021. One of HESA’s open data champions, Izzy Budd, outlines the next milestone in the transformation of HESA's publications and specifically the impact on the Higher Education Statistics for the UK publication.

Changes and trends in the student population

Proportions of science students and disabled students rise, while proportions of older and part-time students fall. HESA publications Students in Higher Education 2015/16 and Higher Education Statistics for the United Kingdom 2015/16 provide information on personal characteristics and study activities of students in the UK.

What 2014/15 graduates did next

76% of all survey respondents were in employment. Of these employed leavers 59% were on permanent or open-ended contracts while 25% were on fixed-term contracts. 4% of employed leavers were self-employed, 3% were on zero-hours contracts, 2% on internships, and 1% were starting up their own business.

Expenditure of HE providers by activity 2014/15

Finances of Higher Education Providers 2014/15 shows that UK HE providers had a total expenditure of £31.2 billion in 2014/15. £11.8bn (38.0% of the total) was spent through academic departments. Medicine, dentistry and health departments accounted for 8.7% of total expenditure.

Over 4,000 new graduate start-ups in 2014/15

The survey results show the number of new and on-going spin-off companies associated with UK HE providers. 129 spin-offs were started with some provider ownership in 2014/15. 4,160 graduate start-up companies and 138 social enterprises were formed

Income and expenditure of higher education providers in 2014/15

HE Finance Plus 2014/15 shows that the total income of higher education providers in 2014/15 was £33.2 billion.2 Tuition fees and education contracts contributed £15.6 billion or 47% of this total. The total expenditure of UK HE providers was £31.2 billion, of which £17.1 billion (55%) was spent on staff costs.

Characteristics of Academic Staff in 2014/15

Data published today show that there were 198,335 academic staff employed at UK HE providers in 2014/15. When analysed by cost centre (a proxy for academic departments) nearly a quarter of these staff (24%) were working in the areas of medicine, dentistry and health.

Trends in HE qualifications: 745,000 HE qualifications awarded in 2014/15

Data published today show that 745,005 higher education qualifications were awarded by UK HE providers in 2014/15. This is 4% fewer than were awarded in 2013/14. While 6% fewer first degrees were awarded than in the previous year, the number of postgraduate qualifications rose by 1%. The number of other undergraduate qualifications awarded, such as diplomas and certificates of HE fell by 10%, continuing a four year downward trend. 

94% of 2011 graduates in work or study 3½ years later

A sample of graduates who left higher education in 2010/11 were asked what they were doing on 24 November 2014.