Higher education in numbers

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.

• Undergraduate: 1,734,805
• Postgraduate: 444,760
• Full time: 1,630,505
• Part time: 552,060
• Students from the UK: 2,182,560
• Students from the EU: 120,140
• Students from non-EU countries: 559,825

(Source: HESA Student record 2020–21)

• In 2021–22, there were 233,930 staff (excluding atypical staff) employed at UK higher education institutions.
• Staff employed on academic contracts made up 43% of the population.
• 16% of academic staff with a known nationality had an EU nationality, while 16% 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)

• 767,000 people were accepted through UCAS to start an undergraduate course in the 2022 cycle.
• In 2022, 683,650 people applied through UCAS to an undergraduate course.

(Source: UCAS 2021 End of Cycle report)

• ​​​In 2020–​21, 4528 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)

• By 2035, more than 11 million extra graduates, in addition to the 15.3 million graduates currently in the UK workforce, will be needed to fill jobs in the UK by 2035.
• 88% of new jobs by 2035 will be at graduate level.

(Source: DfE Labour market and skills projections: 2020 to 2035).

• 73% of UK graduates credit going to university with enabling them to find the job they wanted in under a year.

(Source: The value of going to university).

• In 2021–22, universities across the UK generated £130 billion for the economy.
• This includes almost £15 billion generated from the spending of international students.
• Universities support more than three quarters of a million jobs (768,000).

 ​(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)