Summary
- The total number of HE student enrolments for 2023/24 stood at 2,904,425, a decrease of 1% from 2,937,155 in 2022/23.
- First degree courses remained the most popular type of higher education among entrants in 2023/24, despite seeing a 1% decrease in enrolments compared to 2022/23. Meanwhile, enrolments in other undergraduate courses saw a steeper decline, dropping by 6% over the same period.
- Postgraduate taught entrant enrolments decreased by 6% compared to the previous academic year, marking a break in the upward trend observed since 2015/16. This decrease comprises a 10% drop in students with a non-European Union permanent address, as well as a 1% decrease in both UK and EU students.
- In contrast, postgraduate research entrant enrolments saw a 4% increase compared to 2022/23.
Figure 1 – HE qualifications obtained by level of qualification (Academic years 2014/15 to 2023/24)
- Please be aware that qualification awards in 2022/23 were impacted by the Marking and Assessment Boycott.
- The total number of qualifications achieved in 2023/24 was 1,053,060, an increase of 8% relative to 975,040 in 2022/23.
- Between 2022/23 and 2023/24, the number of other undergraduate qualifications awarded decreased by 6%. All other levels saw an increase in the number of qualifications awarded.
- The number of postgraduate taught qualifications obtained has increased markedly since 2019/20, rising by 15% between 2022/23 and 2023/24. Postgraduate taught qualifications became the most awarded qualification in 2023/24, surpassing first degrees for the first time since our records began.
About this release
This bulletin is the annual first release of HESA student data. It draws upon data from the revised student data collection and marks the second year of reporting using the new data model. Once again, a comprehensive quality assessment has been undertaken on the dataset.
In the main, time series analysis continues to be possible, although users should be aware that data definitions sometimes change over time. Any significant quality notes for the latest academic year are highlighted throughout the release in expandable boxes adjacent to each data table.
In summary, we cover data about higher education students and qualifiers from the following types of providers within the UK:
- Higher education (HE) providers in England registered with the Office for Students (OfS) in the Approved (fee cap) or Approved categories;
- Publicly funded HE providers in Northern Ireland and Scotland; and
- Providers in Wales that are funded directly for higher education provision by Medr and providers in Wales that return data to HESA about specifically designated courses.
This separate record counts students studying wholly outside the UK who are either registered with the reporting HE provider or who are studying for an award of the reporting HE provider.
