HIGHER EDUCATION IN
FACTS AND FIGURES 2015
2
HIGHLIGHTS
Facts and figure 2015
18-year-olds from the areas with lowest participation in higher education in England are 61% more likely to start university now, than in 2006.
17% of research and development funding received by UK universities comes from overseas sources, the majority (68%) from within the EU.
In the first quarter of 2015, the median salary for graduates was 41% higher than for non‑graduates amongst those aged 16–64.
Over three quarters of research activity at UK universities was rated as world‑leading or internationally excellent.
27% of all academic staff employed at UK universities are from outside the UK.
For further information: Tel: +44 (0)20 7419 4111 Visit: www.universitiesuk.ac.uk Email: info@universitiesuk.ac.uk
STUDENTS 18-year-old application rates to full-time first degree study in the UK, 2006–15
3
14
Top five countries of origin for UK students, 2013–14
15
Provider income from non-EU domiciled students and non-EU domiciled student numbers, 2003–04 to 2013–14
16
Student satisfaction, 2015
17
Students at higher education providers in the UK by country of provider, 2012–13 to 2013–14 9
First degree qualifiers by sex, mode of study and degree class, 2013–14
18
Full-time and part-time higher education students by level of study at UK higher education providers, 2013–14
Qualifications awarded at UK higher education providers, 2013–14
19
10
Students by subject area at UK higher education providers 2013–14
Destinations of leavers by level of qualification 2013–14
20
11
Higher education provider students by domicile and level of study, 2013–14
Unemployment rates and median salaries in the UK by group (2015, quarter 1)
21
12
Home country of international students at UK higher education providers, 2013–14
13
Application rates to full-time first degree study for the most disadvantaged 18-year-olds, 2006–15 6 Entry rates to full-time first degree study for the most disadvantaged 18-year-olds, 2006–14 7 Young entry rates to full-time first degree study by UK country, 2006–13
8
Facts and figure 2015
Home country of European Economic Area students at UK higher education providers, 2013–14
5
4
Facts and figure 2015
FINANCE AND STAFF
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
Expenditure on higher education as a percentage of GDP (2011) 22
Research and development funding received by UK higher education providers, 2013–14
Income and size of UK higher education providers, 2012–13 and 2013–14 23
Government-financed gross domestic expenditure on research and development as a proportion of GDP, 2007–13 29
Income of and expenditure by UK higher education providers, 2013–14 24 Academic staff by nationality and subject area, 2013–14
25
Academic staff in UK higher education providers by nationality and sex, 2013–14 26 Staff salaries at UK higher education providers, 2013–14 27
28
UK government-funded expenditure on research and development, 2003–13
30
Research Excellence Framework research quality profiles, 2014
31
Sources 32 Glossary 33 Universities UK 36
18-YEAR-OLD APPLICATION RATES TO FULL-TIME FIRST DEGREE STUDY IN THE UK, 2006–15
5
Students
18-year-olds are more likely than ever to apply for university in all UK countries. This shows the proportion of 18-year-olds living in the different UK nations who apply to university.
Application rate (%)
50
48%
45 40
35%
35
32%
30
31%
25 20 2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Year England
Northern Ireland
Wales
Scotland
2013
2014
2015
ENTRY RATES TO FULL-TIME FIRST DEGREE STUDY FOR THE MOST DISADVANTAGED 18-YEAR-OLDS, 2006–14
7
Students
18-year-olds from the areas with lowest higher education participation (POLAR3 quintile 1) are more likely than ever to go to university, with those in England 61% more likely to start university now than in 2006. The gap between those from the most and least advantaged areas fell by 12% during the period. 20
18%
Entry rate (%)
17% 15
17%
9%
10
5 2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Year England
Northern Ireland
Wales
Scotland
2012
2013
2014
YOUNG ENTRY RATES TO FULL-TIME FIRST DEGREE STUDY BY UK COUNTRY, 2006–13
Students
Entry rates show the proportion of the population accepted into higher education through UCAS. People aged 18 and 19 are now more likely to enter higher education than ever before in three of the four nations of the UK. 50
44% Entry rate (%)
8
40
41% 35%
30
30%
20 2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Year England
Northern Ireland
Wales
Scotland
2012
2013
10
FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS BY LEVEL OF STUDY AT UK HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDERS, 2013–14
Students
Part-time students make up about a quarter of postgraduate research students, a fifth of all undergraduate students, and half of postgraduate taught students. Undergraduate 1,759,920
Postgraduate taught 427,945
Postgraduate research 111,495
Total 2,299,360 26.2%
20.9% 48.0% 26.5%
73.5% 52.0%
73.8%
79.1%
Full time
Part time
STUDENTS BY SUBJECT AREA AT UK HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDERS 2013–14
350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000
in ee La ring Ph ng ys ua ic ge al s sc ie nc es Co m pu tin g Hi s to M ry ed ic in e La & Co de w m nt bi is M ne tr y as d s su co bj m ec m un ts ic at Ar io ch n ite ct M ur at e he m at ic A s Ve gr i te rin cult ur ar e y sc ie nc e
n
gn si
de d
En g
es
io at
uc Ed
an
ts Ar
s sc
ie
nc
ie
al ol
og ic
ci
al
st
ud
ec bj
d
su
So
Bi
He
al th
al
lie
Bu
si n
es
s
ts
0
Undergraduate female
Undergraduate male
Postgraduate female
11
Students
There is still a strong male/female split in subject choice, with 84% of those studying engineering male and 79% of those studying subjects allied to health, female.
Postgraduate male
12
HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDER STUDENTS BY DOMICILE AND LEVEL OF STUDY, 2013–14
Students
13% of undergraduate students and 38% of postgraduate students are from outside the UK. 87%
9%
Undergraduate
4%
63%
29%
Postgraduate taught
58%
7% 29%
Postgraduate research
13% 0
500,000 UK
EU
1,000,000
Non-EU
Note: All percentages have been calculated using the raw figures and rounded, therefore percentages may not sum precisely
1,500,000
2,000,000
HOME COUNTRY OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT UK HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDERS, 2013–14
13
North America 1.6% 27,340
EU 0.0% 125,300
6.3%
4.5% 4.5% 28.8%
South America 22.2% 5,310
19.5% 6.3%
8.1% up to 1% 1–5% 5–10% 10–20% 20–30%
1.2%
% of total non-UK domiciled students at UK HEPs % change from last year Total students 2013–14
Other Europe 4.9% 19,525
Africa 2.7% 35,095
20.2%
Rest of Asia 5.6% 84,895
4.5%
Middle East 4.3% 27,520 India -11.8% 19,750
0.6%
China 4.9% 87,895
Australasia 3.0% 2,580
Students
The number of international students in the UK increased between 2012–13 and 2013–14 by 2%. Students from China made up 20% of all international students and those from India made up 5% in 2013–14. The number of students from China increased by 4,100 whilst those from India decreased again, this time by 2,600.
14
HOME COUNTRY OF EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA STUDENTS AT UK HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDERS, 2013–14
Students
There were 133,845 students from the EEA and Switzerland studying in UK universities in 2013–14. Iceland 0.2%
Germany 10.5%
210
14,060
Denmark 1.1%
Ireland 8.6%
2,900
France 8.6%
2,530
up to 1% 1–2% 2–4% 4–6% 6–8% 8%+
1,885
Sweden 2.4%
1,425
3,230
3,340
Liechtenstein 0.0%
Czech Rep 1.0% 1,315
Austria 1.3%
1,070
Switzerland 2.3% 3,100 Spain 4.9% 6,585
% of total EEA/Swiss domiciled students at UK HEPs in 2013–14
1,785
Italy 7.1% 9,550
Malta 0.7% 980
Croatia 0.2% 255
1,175
Latvia 1.4% 1,840
4,865
360
Luxembourg 0.8%
Estonia 0.9%
Lithuania 3.6%
Slovenia 0.3%
15
11,500
Portugal 1.9%
Finland 1.4%
5,220
Netherlands 2.5%
11,490
Belgium 2.2%
Norway 3.9%
Hungary 1.1% 1,465
Greece 8.0% 10,670
Poland 3.9% 5,200
Slovakia 1.0% 1,405
Romania 4.9% 6,515
Bulgaria Cyprus 4.7% 6,355 7.7%
10,295
TOP FIVE COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN FOR UK STUDENTS, 2013–14
15
100,000 90,000
40,000
80,000
35,000
70,000 30,000
60,000
25,000
50,000 40,000
20,000
30,000
15,000
20,000 10,000 5,000
10,000 2009–10
2010–11
2011–12
2012–13
2013–14
0
Year China (shown against right-hand axis)
India
Nigeria
Malaysia
United States
Students from China
Students from Malaysia, USA, Nigeria and India
50,000
Students
Students coming from China have risen by 54% over the past four years but those from India have fallen by 49% in the same period.
PROVIDER INCOME FROM NON-EU DOMICILED STUDENTS AND NON-EU DOMICILED STUDENT NUMBERS, 2003–04 TO 2013–14
350,000
4.5 4.0
300,000
3.5 250,000 3.0 200,000
2.5 2.0
150,000
1.5 100,000 1.0 50,000
0.5
0
0.0
4
–0
2
3 00
5
2
6
2
5 00
7
2
6 00
8
–0
–0
–0
–0
4 00
2
7 00
9
2
0
2
9 00
1
–1
–1
–0
8 00
2
0 01
2
–1
1 01
2
3
2
4
–1
–1
2 01
3 01
2
Year Real tuition fee income from non-EU students (£ billion)
Total non-EU domiciled students
Total non-EU domiciled students
Students
Universities received £3.9 billion in tuition fees from the 310,000 international student registered at them in 2013–14. Real tuition fee income from non-EU students (£bn)
16
STUDENT SATISFACTION, 2015
17
Student satisfaction remains high, with 86% of students satisfied with their course. Students
14%
86%
The National Student Survey of final year undergraduate students found the overwhelming majority were satisfied with the quality of their course.
Satisfied
Not satisfied
18
FIRST DEGREE QUALIFIERS BY SEX, MODE OF STUDY AND DEGREE CLASS, 2013–14
Students
70% of full-time female students and 65% of full-time male students got first and upper-second (2.1) degrees. Full-time female students are 53% more likely to get a first or 2.1 than their part-time equivalents. Male full-time students are 36% more likely to get a first or 2.1 than their part-time equivalents. 19.3%
20.7%
50.9%
3.5% 5.6%
Full-time female
13.6%
32.3%
26.3%
13.4%
14.3%
Part-time female
19.2%
45.6%
24.5%
5.4%
5.4%
Full-time male
16.3%
31.2%
27.2%
14.2%
11.2%
Part-time male
0
20 First
Upper second
40 Lower second
60 Third/pass
80 Unclassified
100
QUALIFICATIONS AWARDED AT UK HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDERS, 2013–14
19
Undergraduate Mode of study
First degree
Students
56% of all qualifications awarded in 2013–14 were for undergraduate first degrees. The number of degrees awarded was 10,000 lower than in 2012–13. Postgraduate Other undergraduate
Foundation degree
Other higher degree
PGCE
Other postgraduate qualification
Doctorate
21,305
14,570
17,545
Full-time
43,440
10,435 129,350
383,630 Part-time
8,500
1,055
3,695 32,345
38,075
38,220
35,650
Total
421,850
79,090
18,935
167,425
22,360
46,915
21,240
% of total
54.2%
10.2%
2.4%
21.5%
2.9%
6.0%
2.7%
20
DESTINATIONS OF LEAVERS BY LEVEL OF QUALIFICATION 2013–14
Students
Six months after graduation, 92% of postgraduates and other undergraduates, and 89% of first degree students are working or pursuing further study. 81.2%
4.9% 6.2% 4.3% 3.5%
Postgraduate
70.2%
5.5% 13.1%
6.3%
4.9%
First degree
58.2%
14.0%
19.5%
3.7% 4.6%
Other undergraduate
0
40
20 Work
Work and study
Study
60
Unemployed and looking for work
80 Other
100
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES AND MEDIAN SALARIES IN THE UK BY GROUP (2015, QUARTER 1)
21
10%
50,000
9%
45,000
8%
40,000
7%
35,000
6%
30,000
5%
25,000
4%
20,000
3%
15,000
2%
10,000
1%
5,000 0
0% Postgraduate
Graduate
Non-graduate
Young unemployment rate (21–30 year olds)
Unemployment rate (16–64 year olds)
Young median salary (21–30 year old)
Median salary (16–64 year olds)
Median salary (£)
Unemployment rates (%)
Students
In the first quarter of 2015 the median salary for graduates was 31% higher than for non-graduates amongst those aged 21–30, and 41% higher for those aged 16–64.
22
EXPENDITURE ON HIGHER EDUCATION AS A PERCENTAGE OF GDP (2011)
Finance and Staff
In 2011 the UK spent 1.2% of GDP on higher education: a lower proportion than many countries, including the USA, the Russian Federation, and Chile. Country
Total expenditure in %
Country
Total expenditure in %
Canada
2.8 2.7 2.6 2.4 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
New Zealand
1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.9
United States Republic of Korea Chile Colombia Denmark Finland Netherlands Estonia Israel Norway Sweden Argentina Australia Japan Austria France Ireland Latvia
Belgium Czech Republic Portugal Russian Federation Germany Mexico Poland Slovenia Spain Switzerland Turkey Iceland United Kingdom Hungary Italy Slovakia Brazil
INCOME AND SIZE OF UK HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDERS, 2012–13 AND 2013–14
23
Less than £10m
Less than 1,000
£10–20m
1,000 to 5,000 5,000 to 10,000 Number of students
£20–50m
Income (£)
Finance and Staff
Nearly half of all UK higher education providers have an annual income of between £50 and £200 million. Less than a third had an annual income higher than £200 million.
£50–100m £100–200m £200–500m £500–1000m
10,000 to 15,000 15,000 to 20,000 20,000 to 25,000 25,000 to 30,000 30,000 to 50,000
More than £1bn
50,000 to 200,000 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Total income 2012–13
Number of students 2012–13
Total income 2013–14
Number of students 2013–14
35
24
INCOME OF AND EXPENDITURE BY UK HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDERS, 2013–14
Finance and Staff
In 2013–14, the highest proportion of providers’ income came from full-time UK and EU students. In total, tuition fees made up 42% of provider income. Totalincome income £30.7 Total £30.7billion billion
Totalexpenditure expenditure £29.3 Total £29.3billion billion
1%
6%
18%
1%
20%
37%
55%
17% 27% 3% 13%
3%
Funding council grants
Full-time UK and EU HE fees
Staff costs
Other operating expenses
Part-time UK and EU fees
Non-EU domicile HE fees
Depreciation
Other fees and support grants
Research grants and contracts
Interest and other finance costs
Other income
Endowment and investment income
ACADEMIC STAFF BY NATIONALITY AND SUBJECT AREA, 2013–14
25
46,660
50,000
Universities employed
45,000 40,000
30,255
35,000 30,000
17,560
15,065
20,000 15,000 10,000
191,000
23,695
22,470
25,000
16,240
13,040
3,870
2,335
5,000
d
io n at
ts ar g
uc Ed
ge pe
an s Cr
ea
tiv
e
an
iti e UK staff
in
rfo
la d
al ci So an m
rm
ng
ua
ie n Sc
st Hu
EU staff
s
s ce
ie ud
tu s es si n Bu
gi n En Non-EU staff
s
re
gy
ch te
Ar c
ch te d
an g
ee
rin
hi
no
at m d an
ce ie n
lo
hs
ce ie n sc
ve t Sc
re tu ul ric
Ag
M
ed
ic
in e
an
an
d
d
he
al th
ca
re
0
academics in 2013–14.
Finance and Staff
EU and international staff make up 37% of all academics employed in engineering and technology, and 35% of those employed in science and maths.
26
ACADEMIC STAFF IN UK HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDERS BY NATIONALITY AND SEX, 2013–14
Finance and Staff
27% of academic staff at UK higher education providers are from outside the UK. 7% 5% 8%
33% Female UK staff Male UK staff
7%
Female EU staff Male EU staff Female non-EU staff Male non-EU staff
40%
STAFF SALARIES AT UK HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDERS, 2013–14
27
60,000
Percentage of employees from total
50,000
19%
22%
30,000 20,000 10,000
27%
Male non-academic
+ ,0 32 £5 7
31
32%
£4 2,
47 6
to
£5 7, 0
75 to
64 4 £3 1,
£2 3,
58 6
to
£3
1, 6
£4 2, 4
43
85 £2 3, 5 to
67 8 £1 7,
de
r£
17 ,6
78
0
Un
Staff
40,000
Male academic
Female non-academic
Female academic
Finance and Staff
54% of the total higher education workforce are female. They make up 63% of those paid under £17,678. Men are 46% of the total higher education workforce. They make up 70% of those paid over £57,032.
28
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDING RECEIVED BY UK HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDERS, 2013–14
Research and innovation
17% of research and development funding received by UK universities comes from overseas sources, the majority (68%) from within the EU. 5%
1%
11% 28%
Overall research and development funding has decreased by
2.3%
4%
from 2012–13.
Research funding from international sources increased by
9.3%
in the same period.
Higher education funding councils Research councils
13%
UK-based charities UK central government UK industry, commerce and public corporations
14%
24%
EU sources International sources Other
GOVERNMENT-FINANCED GROSS DOMESTIC EXPENDITURE ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AS A PROPORTION OF GDP, 2007–13
29
Research and innovation
The Chinese government is now spending almost the same proportion of GDP on research and development as the UK government. 1.0%
Govt-financed GERD as % of GDP
0.9% 0.8% 0.7% 0.6% 0.5% 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% 0.1% 0%
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Year United Kingdom EU28
United States
Germany
France
OECD
Japan
Canada
Italy
China
30
UK GOVERNMENT-FUNDED EXPENDITURE ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, 2003–13
Research and innovation
UK government expenditure on research and development has been declining for the past three years and is now 12% lower than in 2010.
£9,000 £8,000 £7,000 £6,000 £5,000 £4,000 £3,000 £2,000 £1,000 £0 2003
2004
2005
2006
Government-funded GERD, £ million
2007
2008 Year
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FRAMEWORK RESEARCH QUALITY PROFILES, 2014
31
Research and innovation
Over three quarters of research activity at UK universities was rated as world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*). Within disciplinary panels this ranged from 69% to 83%.
Panel A: Life sciences
Panel B: Engineering and the physical sciences
Panel C: Social sciences
Panel D: Arts and humanities
0
20 % at 4*
40 % at 3*
60 % at 2*
80 % at 1*
100 Unclassified
32
SOURCES P.5
UCAS, 2015
P.6 UCAS, 2015 Facts and figure 2015
P.7
UCAS, 2015
P.8 UCAS, 2015
P.21 BIS (2015) Q1 Graduate Labour Statistics P.22 OECD Education at a Glance (2014) P.23 HESA (multiple years) HE Finance Plus and Students in Higher Education
P.9 HESA (multiple years) Students in Higher Education
P.24 HESA (2015) HE Finance Plus
P.10 HESA (2015) Students in Higher Education
P.26 HESA (2015) Staff in Higher Education
P.11 HESA (2015) Students in Higher Education
P.27 HESA (2015) Staff in Higher Education
P.12 HESA (2015) Students in Higher Education
P.28 HESA (2015) HE Finance Plus
P.13 HESA (2015) Students in Higher Education
P.29 OECD (2015) Main Science and Technology Indicators
P.14 HESA (2015) Students in Higher Education P.15 HESA (2015) Students in Higher Education P.16 HESA (multiple years) HE Finance Plus and Students in Higher Education, and BIS (2015) GDP deflators P.17 HEFCE (2015) NSS P.18 HESA (2015) Students in Higher Education P.19 HESA (2015) Students in Higher Education P.20 HESA (2015) DLHE
P.25 HESA (2015) Staff in Higher Education
P.30 OECD (2015) Science, Technology and R&D Statistics P.31 HEFCE (2014) All data and further information on sources can be found on our website www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/highereducation
34
OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Facts and figure 2015
Other undergraduate Undergraduate degrees which are not first degrees: these include foundation degrees and Higher National Diplomas. POLAR3 Participation of Local Areas (POLAR) is a widening participation measure which classifies local areas or ‘wards’ into five groups, based on the proportion of 18-year-olds who enter higher education aged 18 or 19-years-old. These groups range from quintile 1 areas, with the lowest young participation (most disadvantaged), up to quintile 5 areas with the highest rates (most advantaged).
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UNIVERSITIES UK Universities UK is the representative organisation for the UK’s universities. Founded in 1918, our mission is to be the voice of universities in the UK, providing high quality leadership and support to our members to promote a successful and diverse higher education sector. With 132 members and offices in London, Cardiff (Universities Wales) and Edinburgh (Universities Scotland), we promote the strength and success of UK universities nationally and internationally. Woburn House, 20 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9HQ Tel: +44 (0)20 7419 4111 Email: info@universitiesuk.ac.uk Web: www.universitiesuk.ac.uk Twitter: @UniversitiesUK ISBN 978-1-84036-345-6 September 2015