Student Wastage
(asked on 20th February 2018) - View Source
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of students entering (a) English and (b) Welsh universities in 2014 on a three-year course failed to complete their courses in 2017.
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes statistics on students studying at UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). As part of the publication ‘Performance Indicators for Higher Education’, HESA estimate learning outcomes for UK domiciled full-time students starting first degree[1] courses.
The table below shows the projected outcomes for those commencing their studies in 2014/15 at UK HEIs, by country of institution.
Projected learning outcomes of UK domiciled full-time first degree entrants
UK Higher Education Institutions
Academic year 2014/15
| Projected outcome (% of entrants)[2] | ||||
Country of institution | Degree | Neither award nor transfer | Other award | Transfer | Not known |
England | 80.7 | 10.3 | 3.7 | 5.1 | 0.2 |
Northern Ireland | 84.3 | 10.9 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 0.1 |
Scotland | 80.7 | 9.7 | 5 | 4.6 | 0.1 |
Wales | 80.4 | 10.8 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 0.1 |
Total UK | 80.8 | 10.3 | 3.8 | 5 | 0.2 |
Source: HESA UK Performance Indicators (Non-Continuation), Table T5
The table shows that even where a student does not complete their degree course, they may go on to achieve a different qualification or transfer to another higher education provider.
Further information on how projected outcomes are defined and calculated by HESA can be found in the UK Performance Indicators Non-Continuation Publication at: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/performance-indicators/non-continuation-summary.
Figures for entrants in the 2015/16 academic year will be published by HESA in March 2018.
[1] Whilst the majority of full-time first degree courses are three year courses, this group will also include some individuals enrolled on four year courses (for example integrated masters degrees).
[2] Percentages are rounded to one decimal place so may not sum exactly to 100.