Governance News Alert: HESA enrolment data 2023/24

Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Releases Higher Education Student Statistics: UK Student Enrolments 2023/24 

The HESA data covers student enrolment as of 2023/24, giving a breakdown by type of course, subject, level of study and domicile of entrants. It also gives breakdowns by student characteristics including socio-economic level, gender and ethnicity and details of undergraduate degree classifications awarded in 2024.

The full report can be found at: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/news/20-03-2025/sb271-higher-education-student-statistics

At-a-glance:

• 2,904,425 students were enrolled at UK higher education providers in the 2023/24 academic year. This represents a fall of 1 per cent from the previous year - the first decrease since 2012/13 to 2014/15, following the 2012 rise in the undergraduate tuition fee cap
• New entrants fell by 3 per cent from 1,365,315 to 1,318,685 with numbers falling for all levels of study except postgraduate research degrees. First degree entrant numbers fell by 1 per cent while the numbers starting taught Master’s degrees fell by 8 per cent
• The number of entrants whose permanent address was outside the UK fell by 7 per cent including a 36 per cent fall in the number of new entrants from Nigeria. Numbers of new students from India fell by 15 per cent and from China by 4 per cent
• The proportion of undergraduates gaining first class honours fell slightly from 30 per cent to 29 per cent compared to 2022/23
• While the number of students in the UK declined, the number of transnational education (TNE) students studying for UK qualifications overseas rose by 8 per cent, with a total of 621,065 students registered overseas at a UK higher education provider or studying for a UK higher education qualification in 2023/24
• 57 per cent of students were female. This has been the same since 2016/17
• Between 2022/23 and 2023/24, the number of students with a known disability increased by 30,040. The proportion of UK students in this category increased by 1 percentage point year on year since 2019/20
• The proportion of students with no religious belief was 44 per cent in 2023/24. In 2019/20, it accounted for 49 per cent of all students. Muslim student numbers have increased each year, rising from 10 per cent in 2019/20 to 14 per cent in 2023/24
• White students accounted for 70 per cent of the total. This has steadily decreased since 2020/21, when it was 74 per cent. Over the same period Asian students have increased from 12 per cent to 14 per cent
• There has been little change in the proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, other than a 1 per cent increase to 21 per cent of students in quintile 1 (most deprived) of the English Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) measure
• In 2023/24, business and management was the most popular subject, accounting for 21 per cent of all student enrolments, up from 20 per cent in 2022/23. Veterinary science, computing and medicine and dentistry also saw increases in entrants, increasing by 6 per cent, 5 per cent and 1 per cent respectively
• Enrolments in combined and general studies, education and teaching and languages all declined, by 14 per cent, 10 per cent and 6 per cent respectively

Implications for governance:

The HESA data confirms trends in recruitment that have contributed to the financial difficulties experienced by many institutions across the UK.

The 7 per cent fall in international students in 2023/24 compared to the previous year was the start of a drop off in overseas numbers that was accelerated by the changes to student visas which came into force in January 2024. However, the most recent applications figures suggest there has been a rebound in overseas demand for places.

UK enrolments also dipped, resulting in an overall 3 per cent fall in new entrants, with numbers falling for all levels of study except postgraduate research degrees.

Institutional-level data in the HESA release allows comparisons between universities and colleges and it could be useful for governors to note the differences in recruitment year on year across providers.

Student characteristics data shows more women than men are enrolling and that the recruitment of white students is falling. Lower levels of male participation has been identified as an area of concern in a recent paper by the Higher Education Policy Institute, which estimates that differences in educational achievement between men and women have meant half a million young men missing out on higher education over the past decade. 

While rising participation among minority ethnic background students, particularly women, is a success story, lower or falling rates of enrolment elsewhere could indicated that some groups need more intensive outreach.

Stagnant proportions of students entering higher education from disadvantaged backgrounds will be a concern for widening participation teams, particularly at a time when financial pressure could be making their jobs harder.

More encouraging is data on the proportion of students with a known disability enter higher education, with proportions steadily rising since 2019/20. The increase comes with resources implications however, and governing board may want to ensure that their institutions have the policies, practices and procedures in place to respond quickly to the varying needs of this group.  Similarly, data on religion and belief indicates a rise in the number of Muslim students, who may have specific requirements.

Work carried out by institutions to weed out any drivers of degree inflation are continuing to have an impact it appears, with a 1 per cent fall in the proportion of graduates awarded a first-class degree.

Governing bodies, which may be reviewing programmes and portfolios, will be interested in the data on subject popularity in 2023/24. Business and management courses continue to perform strongly, as does computing. Education and teaching and languages continue to show falls, however.

One significant growth area in UK higher education is TNE, with an 8 per cent jump in students registered overseas at a UK provider or studying for a UK qualification. 

Interest in TNE as a potential new source of income is growing. Partnership deals with overseas institutions are being struck and several UK universities have opened or are planning to open foreign campuses. Recent interest has particularly focused on India, where a demographic bulge has increased the potential pool of students and where 2023 regulation changes have made it possible for other countries to open campuses.

According to Gareth Thomas, the UK’s minister for small business, services and exports, increased partnerships between Indian and UK universities could be a “game changer” for both countries.

The Office for Students recent focus on partnerships includes TNE. In addition from 2026/27, institutions in both England and Wales are required to submit data on students in TNE, including in “award only” partnerships.