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Last updated on Wednesday 20 Sep 2023 at 3:23pm
Key facts and figures about UK higher education.
In 2021–22, there were 285 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 2021–22, there were 2,182,560 students studying at UK higher education providers.
(Source: HESA Student record 2020–21)
(Source: HESA staff record 2020–21)
(Source: 2020 National Student Survey)
(Source: UCAS 2021 End of Cycle report)
(Source: UCAS 2021 End of Cycle report)
(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:
Figures for 2017–18 show that the total operating expenditure by the sector was £42.3 billion.
(Source: HESA Finance Record 2020/21)
(Source: DfE Graduate labour market statistics: 2021)
(Source: DfE Labour market and skills projections: 2020 to 2035).
(Source: The value of going to university).
(Source: London Economics (2023), The impact of the higher education sector on the UK economy)
The 2022 Research Excellent Framework rated 41% of the research submitted as 'world leading' and 47% as 'internationally excellent'.
(Source: Research Excellent Framework (REF) 2021)
Our monthly updates are a great way for you to stay up to date with our work, events, and higher education news.