Non-continuation rates by subject of study are available in supplementary tables as part of the “Performance Indicators in Higher Education” publication, published by HESA. Figures are available for the following UK-domiciled entrants to UK higher education institutions:
Young entrants to full-time first degree courses;
Mature entrants to full-time first degree courses;
Entrants to full-time other undergraduate courses (only available from 2002/03).
Figures are available up to and including 2003/04. The 2004/05 figures will become available on 19 July when HESA releases the next set of Performance Indicators in Higher Education. The information is shown in the tables.
Percentage 1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science 2.0 2 2.4 1 .8 2.0 Subjects Allied to Medicine 6.3 6 5.9 6.4 7.7 Biological Sciences1 16.9 16 16.1 17.1 7.3 Physical Sciences1 1— 1— 1— 1— 6.1 Agriculture And Related Subjects 6.8 7 11.4 7.5 8.3 Mathematical Sciences2 29.8 28 28.4 29.4 5.5 Computer Sciences2 2— 2— 2— 2— 10.3 Engineering & Technology 10.1 9 8.9 10.0 10.1 Architecture, Building, Planning 9.6 8 10.2 11.1 10.0 Social Studies3 36.9 36 36.4 37.0 7.2 Law3 3— 3— 3— 3— 6.2 Librarianship, Information Sciences4 46.9 48 48.2 n/a n/a Business & Administrative Studies4, 5 4— 4— 4— 58.8 8.8 Mass Communications & Documentation5 n/a n/a n/a 5— 8.5 Humanities6 65.9 65 65.7 n/a n/a Languages6, 7 6— 6— 6— 76.3 6.3 Historical & Philosophical Studies7 n/a n/a n/a 7— 5.9 Creative Arts & Design 8.7 8 8.3 8.2 8.4 Education 8.6 8 8.1 8.0 7.5 Combined Subjects 8.8 8 8.2 14.3 13.5 All Subjects 7.8 7 7.3 7.8 7.7 Note: Figures for 2000/01 are only available to the nearest integer. Source: Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science 2 3 3.1 2.9 2.8 Subjects Allied to Medicine 12 10 11.2 11.8 12.5 Biological Sciences1 117 115 118.0 117.7 17.5 Physical Sciences1 1— 1— 1— 1— 16.8 Agriculture & Related Subjects 16 13 18.0 14.5 12.3 Mathematical Sciences2 220 218 218.4 220.3 18.7 Computer Sciences2 2— 2— 2— 2— 19.0 Engineering & Technology 20 19 16.9 19.7 21.3 Architecture, Building, Planning 17 17 16.9 15.9 17.2 Social Studies3 315 315 314.8 315.4 14.3 Law3 3— 3— 3— 3— 17.7 Librarianship, Information Sciences4 417 416 416.8 n/a n/a Business & Administrative Studies4, 5 4— 4— 4— 518.0 19.2 Mass Communications & Documentation5 n/a n/a n/a 5— 16.7 Humanities6 616 614 614.8 n/a n/a Languages6, 7 6— 6— 6— 715.6 15.7 Historical & Philosophical Studies7 n/a n/a n/a 7— 15.8 Creative Arts & Design 13 12 13.0 12.1 14.4 Education 12 11 10.2 10.1 11.8 Combined Subjects 19 18 18.2 23.2 19.9 All Subjects 16 14 14.9 15.4 15.6 Note: Figures for 1999/2000 and 2000/01 are only available to the nearest integer. Source: Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
2002/03 2003/04 Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science 17.9 8.0 Subjects Allied to Medicine 11.2 10.6 Biological Sciences1 123.5 24.0 Physical Sciences1 1— 21.8 Agriculture & Related Subjects 19.8 24.3 Mathematical Sciences2 224.1 18.4 Computer Sciences2 2— 23.5 Engineering & Technology 21.0 25.2 Architecture, Building, Planning 30.1 22.1 Social Studies3 316.1 23.4 Law3 3— 17.5 Business & Administrative Studies4,5 523.4 27.3 Mass Communications & Documentation5 5— 21.1 Languages6, 7 737.9 39.9 Historical & Philosophical Studies7 7— 49.9 Creative Arts & Design 17.7 18.3 Education 24.3 19.6 Combined Subjects 17.2 27.4 All Subjects 16.8 17.5 1 One figure was provided for Biological and Physical Sciences until 2003/04. 2 One figure was provided for Mathematical and Computer Sciences until 2003/04. 3 One figure was provided for Social Studies and Law until 2003/04. 4 One figure was provided for Librarianship, information Sciences and Business & administrative studies until 2002/03. 5 One figure was provided for Business & administrative studies and Mass communications & documentation in 2002/03. 6 One figure was provided for Languages and Humanities until 2002/03. 7 One figure was provided for Languages and Historical & Philosophical Studies in 2002/03. Notes: 1. n/a = Not applicable. 2. There is a break in the time series between academic years 2001/02 and 2002/03 because the subjects' JACS codings were changed in 2002/03. Source: Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
The Learning and Skills Council provides success rates of students studying at English further education colleges. These are the number of qualifications achieved expressed as a percentage of the number started. Success rates for learners studying for level 4, 5 or higher level courses are provided here as a proxy for higher education, and many of these courses are likely to be non-prescribed higher education. The success rates are shown in the table:
Year completed Success rate (percentage) 2001/02 38 2002/03 43 2003/04 59 2004/05 59 2005/06 62 Source: Further Education and Work Based Learning—Learner Outcomes in England: 2005/06 (ILR/SFR13)
These success rates are not available broken down by prescribed/non-prescribed course types.