The latest available information is shown in the following table.
Age group Academic year Mode of study Under 18 years 18-20 years 21-24 years 25-29 years 30 years and over Age unknown 1996/97 Full-time 11,585 533,025 346,965 113,875 131,680 1,465 Part-time 600 12,680 51,265 98,435 400,485 16,845 1997/98 Full-time 12,110 559,460 345,835 113,805 131,570 3,345 Part-time 410 12,950 49,405 97,645 418,480 14,535 1998/99 Full-time 11,710 583,505 342,955 110,370 129,370 1,355 Part-time 735 15,020 51,785 100,890 446,910 11,465 1999/2000 Full-time 11,495 597,075 340,435 105,490 123,155 1,080 Part-time 755 16,620 53,190 99,350 458,085 9,635 2000/01 Full-time 11,210 602,390 352,455 104,370 124,340 790 Part-time 675 18,620 58,555 101,515 477,495 11,170 2001/02 Full-time 11,920 614,305 371,790 107,155 132,335 720 Part-time 1,310 19,240 63,560 100,670 493,930 10,220 2002/03 Full-time 12,085 631,465 397,555 114,455 140,265 780 Part-time 2,220 19,425 71,085 106,225 512,985 11,635 2003/04 Full-time 11,550 645,985 413,445 121,190 145,860 775 Part-time 2,460 20,605 78,155 112,225 546,935 9,275 2004/05 Full-time 11,440 657,640 421,165 127,595 148,140 545 Part-time 3,320 21,775 81,405 118,970 558,870 8,280 2005/06 Full-time 11,515 684,065 424,045 134,240 150,085 555 Part-time 2,375 23,480 80,425 120,710 538,205 6,630 1 Includes both undergraduates and postgraduates. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record data. Figures include students from the UK and overseas, and have been rounded to the nearest 5. The figures are based on students enrolled at 1 December in each year because these are the only figures available on a comparable basis in each year since 1996.