This report is the tenth in a series published annually by Universities UK, with the support of GuildHE, updating and expanding a rich variety of data which help us to understand higher education in the UK. Since its first report in 2001, the "Patterns" series has examined the trends in UK higher education at both the sector and institutional level. The authors have built up a 10-year time series of information that has proved very useful to senior managers in the sector as well as being drawn upon by many outside higher education. In addition, each report has focused in its final section on a particular issue of interest. This tenth report follows the established format of the "Patterns" series. Section A looks at sector level trends over the 10-year period from 1999/2000 to 2008/09 and provides the context for the findings about institutions. Section B looks at patterns of institutional diversity and updates information on higher education institutions provided in the earlier "Patterns" reports. Section C examines differentiation among the countries and regions of the UK as it affects higher education provision and activities. Appended are: (1) Total enrolments by detailed subject of study, 1999/2000 and 2008/09; (2) Non-UK domiciled students at UK higher education institutions by domicile, location of institution and qualification aim, 2008/09; (3) Trends in sources of income to higher education institutions, 2000/01, 2007/08 and 2008/09; (4) Distribution of enrolments among higher and further education institutions by mode and level, 2007/08; (5) Mergers within the higher education sector, 1994/95 to 2008/09; (6) HESA academic cost centres; (7) Students by region/country and institution, 2008/09; (8) Distances travelled by full-time undergraduates from home to place of study, 2008/09, expressed as percentages within 20 km bands--analysed by region of study; (9) Distances travelled by full-time undergraduates from home to place of study, 2008/09, expressed as percentages within 20 km bands--analysed by region of domicile; and (10) Financial security. (Contains 36 tables, 55 charts and 30 footnotes.)