The main measure for tracking progress on increasing participation is currently the Higher Education Initial Participation Rate (HEIPR). This is the sum of the HE initial participation rates for individual ages between 17 and 30 inclusive. It covers English-domiciled first time entrants to HE courses, which are expected to last for at least six months, at UK Higher Education Institutions and English, Scottish and Welsh Further Education Colleges, and who remain on their course for at least six months. The latest available figures are shown in Table 1:
HEIPR: (%) Number of initial participants 1999/2000 39 (39.3) 239,000 2000/01 40 (39.7) 239,000 2001/02 40 (40.2) 244,000 2002/03 41 (41.2) 255,000 2003/04 40 (40.3) 257,000 2004/05 41 (41.3) 268,000 2005/06 43 (42.8) 283,000 Note: The HEIPR is usually published to the nearest integer, but the figures are included to one decimal place to inform comparisons over time. Numbers are quoted to the nearest thousand. Source: “Participation Rates in Higher Education: Academic Years 1999/2000-2005/06 (Provisional)”, published by DfES.
Figures for the young 17-20 age group are shown in Table 2:
HEIPR20: (%) Number of initial participants 1999/2000 31 (31.3) 188,000 2000/01 32 (31.9) 189,000 2001/02 33 (32.5) 194,000 2002/03 33 (32.7) 201,000 2003/04 32 (31.8) 204,000 2004/05 32 (32.1) 209,000 2005/06 34 (34.0) 226,000 Note: The HEIPR is usually published to the nearest integer, but the figures are included to one decimal place to inform comparisons over time. Numbers are quoted to the nearest thousand. Source: “Participation Rates in Higher Education: Academic Years 1999/2000-2005/06 (Provisional)”, published by DfES.
The available information is given in the table. Information for 1991/92, 1992/93 and 1993/94 is not available on a comparable basis for higher education institutions in England.
Academic year Doctorates Masters Other postgraduate1 First degree 1994/95 6,265 33,045 35,300 196,195 1995/96 8,180 38,545 40,750 207,745 1996/97 8,570 40,065 41,685 211,465 1997/98 9,070 44,370 39,980 212,905 1998/99 9,460 46,865 40,445 217,090 1999/2000 9,615 51,850 40,795 217,995 2000/01 9,625 54,160 44,265 217,655 2000/012 11,600 61,900 50,190 224,125 2001/02 11,750 65,760 53,435 225,850 2002/03 12,270 71,780 53,955 233,285 2003/04 12,765 82,945 59,875 241,030 2004/05 12,950 88,715 58,730 251,025 2005/06 13,730 92,205 59,155 260,630 1 Includes those obtaining PGCEs, postgraduate bachelors degrees, postgraduate diplomas and certificates. 2 These figures from 2000/01 include those qualifying from dormant modes of study. In 2000/01, around 25 per cent. of doctorate qualifiers obtained their qualification from a dormant mode of study. To illustrate the difference this makes to the figures, for 2000/01 figures have been provided for both methodologies. Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 5. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record.