Yesterday, HESA published their ‘Statistical First Release’ (SFR) for the academic year 2015/16. The dataset reveals data on HE students such as student enrolment and received qualifications.
The key points revealed through the data are that HE enrolments in UK HE providers has increased by 1% in 2015-16, and that 80% of these enrolments are in full-time HE rather than part-time study, which has seen a decrease over the same period of time.
For UK students, findings reveal an increase of 13,120 students in 2015-16. However figures for non-UK students tell another story. EU enrolments saw an increase of only 2,865 since last year. More worrying, however, is the results from non-European students which took a dip in numbers by 1,135 students.
| 2015/16 | |||||
| UK | Other European Union | Non-European Union | Not known | All domiciles | |
| All UK HE providers | |||||
| Postgraduate research | 64285 | 15205 | 33680 | 5 | 113175 |
| Postgraduate taught | 268470 | 30130 | 120710 | 485 | 419795 |
| ..of which Postgraduate Certificate in Education⌂ | 25275 | 550 | 170 | 0 | 25990 |
| First degree | 1342770 | 77825 | 143300 | 10 | 1563900 |
| Foundation degree | 38970 | 535 | 350 | 0 | 39855 |
| HNC/HND | 15360 | 230 | 230 | 0 | 15820 |
| Other undergraduate | 112460 | 3510 | 12305 | 5 | 128280 |
| ..of which Professional Graduate Certificate in Education | 2005 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 2030 |
| Full and Part-Time | 1842315 | 127440 | 310575 | 505 | 2280830 |
| 2014/2015 for Comparison | 1829195 | 124575 | 312010 | 295 | 2266075 |
For EU student numbers, German, French, Irish, Greek, Cypriot and Polish student enrolments declined, while Italian student enrolments took the biggest surge with a rise of 52% over the four year period. Spanish, Romanian and Bulgarian student enrolments also rose.
In terms of international students, most countries’ student enrolment numbers remained more or less stagnant. The most significant changes are seen by Hong Kong which has increased by 48% between 2011-12 and 2015-16, and India which has continued its disturbing fall by 44% over this five year period.
These results of course coincide with the UCAS End of Cycle report published last December, which also reveal a fall in non-UK/EU acceptance rates.
The HESA data also comes right after HEPI’s warning that a further crackdown on international students intended by Government will severely damage the UK economy.
All images are taken from the HESA page.