As the UK's economy grows, in the context of global change, the needs of employers, employees and learners will also change. For the UK to prosper economically, compete internationally, and reduce economic disparities, the UK's skills base will need to be responsive and meet these changing needs. More flexible learning approaches have the…

Between the academic years 2010-11 and 2016-17, the number of people studying part-time at UK universities fell by 37%, with those students studying undergraduate courses part time falling by 47%. Prior research suggests that in addition to changes to the undergraduate funding system in England, factors such as the economic downturn have…

The traditional three-year, full-time, on-campus path to a first degree remains one of the main routes to higher education. It accounts for 58% of all students at UK universities, and has successfully increased young participation to record levels. However, for those who work while studying or have caring responsibilities, more flexible approaches…

The report analyses the last 10 years in higher education, focusing on applications, student demographics and graduate outcomes; staff backgrounds and expertise; and the income and expenditure of higher education institutions. Main findings include: (1) Demand for university places from 18-year-olds has increased, with those from less advantaged…

The report presents patterns and trends in data on students and staff at UK higher education institutions covering a 10-year period that has seen a transition to new higher education funding systems across a large part of the UK. Patterns in income and expenditure of UK higher education institutions in 2015-16 are considered. For the first time…

This report provides an interim update to the Universities UK "Patterns" series, before the publication of the full "Patterns and Trends" publication in spring 2017. It includes updates of the main charts included in the 2015 publication, covering trends in student and staff numbers and finances of the UK higher education…

This report explores the supply of part-time higher education in the UK, with particular consideration to the study of part-time undergraduate provision in England. It is the final publication in the series of reports on individual student markets that were commissioned by Universities UK following the publication of the reports on the Future size…

This is the fourth annual report on the effects of the introduction of variable fees arrangements for UK and EU-domiciled full-time undergraduates attending higher education institutions in England. This report, like its predecessors, brings together a range of information from publicly accessible sources and the institutions themselves about the…

This is the third annual report on the effects of the introduction of the new higher education fees arrangements for UK and EU-domiciled full-time undergraduates attending higher education institutions in England. The previous two reports have established baseline information about trends in higher education, both in student enrolments and in the…

This paper presents the facts and figures of the whole UK higher education sector in 2009. The data is derived from a variety of sources, and is updated on a yearly basis.

With the increase in student numbers and political concern to ensure fair access to higher education, universities have been reviewing their admissions processes in order to improve their transparency, efficiency and effectiveness. The process contains relatively discrete activities--applications and admissions--in which both the applicants and…

The last decade has seen increased interest in various aspects of the UK doctorate. This report brings together issues arising from national policy developments, the doctoral researcher cohort, the diversification of doctoral level provision in the UK and the development of the third cycle in the Bologna process. Through discussions with key…

This is the report on part-time study in UK higher education institutions (HEIs) for Universities UK and GuildHE (previously SCOP) from Nigel Brown Associates. It forms Strand 2 of the wider research into part-time higher education commissioned by Universities UK and GuildHE using quantitative data not available from published sources and…

This report is about undergraduate students' experience of, and attitudes towards, part-time study, its costs and student support. It was commissioned by Universities UK and GuildHE (previously SCOP). The report is based on an online survey of 2,654 students drawn from 25 higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UK, and was conducted between…

This is a report of the Strand 1 element of the Universities UK project to examine part-time students and part-time study within the United Kingdom. The aim of Strand 1 of this project is to set out, as far as possible, factual information about students studying part-time and following programmes of study leading to higher education…