Higher education in numbers

In 2020–21, there were 170 higher education providers in the UK that returned data to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). This webpage includes data from these publicly funded providers and does not include those that return data to the Alternative Provider record. For further information on higher education providers visit HESA's website.

In 2020–21, there were 2.66 million students studying at UK higher education providers.

• Undergraduate: 1.94 million
• Postgraduate: 0.71 million 
• Full time: 2.10 million
• Part time: 0.55 million
• Students from the UK: 2.07 million
• Students from the EU: 0.15 million 
• Students from non-EU countries: 0.44 million

(Source: HESA Student record 2020–21 )

In 2020–21, there were 439,955 staff (excluding atypical staff) employed at UK higher education institutions.

• Staff employed on academic contracts made up 54% of the population
• 17% of academic staff with a known nationality had an EU nationality, while 15% had a non-EU nationality
• 8% of non-academic staff with a known nationality had an EU nationality, while 4% had a non-EU nationality.

(Source: HESA staff record 2020-21) 

The latest National Student Survey, published in 2022, found that 83% of students were satisfied with the quality of their course. 

• 80% of respondents agreed that they were happy with the teaching on their course
• 81% of respondents were happy with their learning resources
• 79% were happy with their learning opportunities.

 (Source: 2020 National Student Survey)

In 2021, a record 24% of UK 18-year-olds from low participation neighbourhoods (POLAR4 quintile 1) were accepted to study a full-time undergraduate degree through UCAS, compared to 14.1% in 2012.

The entry rate of state school students in England who, while aged 15, were in receipt of free school meals, has increased from 13.0% in 2012 to 20.9% in 2021. 

(Source: UCAS 2021 End of Cycle report)

 562, 060 people were accepted through UCAS to start an undergraduate course in the 2021 cycle.

• In 2021, 749,570 people applied through UCAS to an undergraduate course.

(Source: UCAS 2021 End of Cycle report)

• ​​​In 2020–​21, 4,528 new graduate start-ups were created.
• 167 new university-owned or part-owned spin-off companies were created.

(Source: HESA Higher Education – Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey 2020-21)

Figures for 2020–21 show that the total income for the sector was £43.9 billion. This was made up from the following sources:

• Tuition fees and education contracts: £23.5 billion 
• Funding body grants: £6.0 billion
• Research grants and contracts: £6.5 billion
• Investment income: £0.3 billion
• Donations and endowments: £0.8 billion
• Other income: £6.8 billion.

Figures for 2017–18 show that the total operating expenditure by the sector was £42.3 billion.

(Source: HESA Finance Record 2020/21)

• The survey of 2019/20 graduates revealed that 80% of respondents were in employment or unpaid work, including 10% who were engaged in both employment and further study
• In 2021, the median, English domiciled graduate salary was £10,000 more than the median non-graduate salary. (Source: DfE Graduate labour market statistics: 2021)

In 2018–19, universities across the UK generated £95 billion in gross output for the economy.

• The UK university sector contributed £52 billion to GDP
• The sector also supported more than 815,000 jobs across England.

 ​(Source: Frontier Economics (2021) The economic contribution of the higher education sector in England)

The 2021 Research Excellent Framework rated 36% of the research submitted as 'world leading' and 47% as 'internationally excellent'. (Source:Research Excellent Framework (REF) 2021)