The available information on higher national diploma (HND) qualifiers and foundation degree (FD) qualifiers who went on to study a first degree in the following academic year only is shown in the tables. The figures were derived from the destinations surveys, which collect information about the destinations of qualifiers six months after qualification. Figures for 2005/06 will be available next month.
The available information is limited to qualifiers who went on to study for a first degree in the year immediately following qualification: it does not cover those who chose to progress to a first degree at a later stage.
For a number of reasons, it is difficult to draw reliable conclusions about the trends in the numbers of FD qualifiers who went on to study for a first degree in the following academic year, compared to students who completed HNDs. FDs were only introduced in 2001/02 and until 2004/05 there were relatively low numbers of qualifiers, which makes the figures inherently more volatile. It is also important to note that FD qualifiers tend to be older than HND qualifiers. Older qualifiers are less likely to go on to study for a first degree in the year immediately following qualification, because they are often already employed and tend to have other financial and domestic commitments. They may therefore be more likely to proceed to further study at a later date.
In addition, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) reported in their January 2007/03 (web only) report, Foundation Degrees Key Statistics 2001-02 to 2006-07, that some students on FDs who proceed to further study are reported as having qualified with an honours degree without having been reported as obtaining a FD degree, which has the effect of reducing the number of FD qualifiers who are recorded as having gone on to study for a first degree.
Number of UK domiciled HND qualifiers and the number of those who went on to study for a first degree in the following academic year UK higher education institutions academic years 1994/95 to 2004/05Of which are studying for a first degree in the following academic year1Academic year in which qualification obtainedHND qualifiers of known first destinationNumberPercentage1994/9514,6207,69552.61995/9613,0857,24555.41996/9712,3006,80555.31997/9811,6706,69057.31998/9911,1356,60059.31999/20009,4105,56059.12000/019,5005,61059.12001/029,5005,74560.52002/039,6605,54557.42003/047,2254,03055.82004/056,0503,36555.6 1 Covers students who are participating in (a) work and further study and (b) further study only, based on their situation six months after obtaining their qualification. Not all students provide information of their destination, for instance, the response rate to the questionnaire from HND qualifiers was 66 per cent. for the 2004/05 academic year.Note:Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.Source:Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)—First Destinations Supplement (FDS) 1994/95 to 2001/02 and the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey (DLHE) 2002/03 to 2004/05.
Of which are studying for a first degree in the following academic year1 Academic year in which qualification obtained Foundation degree qualifiers of known first destination Number Percentage 1994/95 n/a n/a n/a 1995/96 n/a n/a n/a 1996/97 n/a n/a n/a 1997/98 n/a n/a n/a 1998/99 n/a n/a n/a 1999/2000 n/a n/a n/a 2000/01 n/a n/a n/a 2001/02 n/a n/a n/a 2002/03 770 450 58.3 2003/04 1,980 1,010 51.2 2004/05 4,070 2,140 52.6 n/a = Foundation degrees were introduced in 2001/02 and usually take two years to complete. As such, figures for first degree students with a prior foundation degree qualification are only available from 2002/03. 1 Covers students who are participating in (a) work and further study and (b) further study only, based on their situation six months after obtaining their qualification. Not all students provide information of their destination, for instance, the response rate to the questionnaire from foundation degree qualifiers was 70 per cent. for the 2004/05 academic year. Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)—First Destinations Supplement (FDS) 1994/95 to 2001/02 and the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey (DLHE) 2002/03 to 2004/05.