(2) how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time mature students withdrew from their higher education course in each year since 2001.
The information available on non-continuation of higher education students is shown in Tables 1 and 2. The figures are taken from the Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Table 1 shows the proportion of UK-domiciled full-time first degree entrants to higher education institutions in England, who do not continue in higher education after their first year. Table 2 shows the proportion of UK-domiciled full-time other undergraduate entrants to higher education institutions in England who do not continue in higher education after their first year.
Academic year 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 Young (under 21) 7.0 7.3 7.2 6.8 Mature 14.8 15.1 15.4 14.0 Source: Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by HESA
Academic year 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 Young (under 21) 16.3 16.1 17.5 16.6 Mature 15.8 14.5 14.3 14.8 Source: Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by HESA
Figures for 2005-06 will become available in 2008.
HESA do not publish figures on the percentage of part-time students not continuing in higher education after their first year.
According to the figures published by the OECD, the overall completion rate for Type A (first degree equivalent) courses in UK universities and colleges of higher education is among the highest in the OECD countries.
The standard measure of non-completion is the proportion of UK-domiciled full-time first degree starters of all ages who are projected to neither obtain an award nor transfer to another institution. The available information for higher education institutions in England is shown in table 1.
Percentage 2000/01 15.0 2001/02 13.8 2002/03 13.9 2003/04 14.4 2004/05 13.8 Source: Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by HESA.
Projected non-completion rates are not available for part-time starters, and are not available broken down by age groups.
The available information on reasons for withdrawing from higher education courses is shown in tables 2 and 3. This information covers students, aged over 21, leaving first degree courses at English higher education institutions in each year, and includes students in their first, final and intervening years of study, irrespective of the year in which they began their course.
Academic year Reason for leaving 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 Successful completion of course 58,700 61,785 62,370 64,550 64,215 Academic failure/left in bad standing 2,395 2,335 2,460 2,645 2,990 Transferred to another institution 415 430 395 760 560 Health reasons 450 465 435 425 460 Death 45 45 55 50 50 Financial reasons 480 480 500 495 410 Personal reasons and dropped out 2,180 2,345 2,320 2,305 2,325 Written off after lapse of time 820 1,125 1,395 1,710 1,435 Exclusion 160 230 285 285 310 Gone into employment 175 175 175 160 160 Other 1,525 1,550 2,065 1,820 1,630 Completion of course, result unknown 605 715 500 365 350 Unknown 815 670 525 605 415 Total who left course not having transferred 9,645 10,135 10,715 10,870 10,540 Total who left in academic year 68,755 72,350 73,480 76,180 75,315 Note: Numbers are rounded to the nearest five so components may not sum to totals. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
Academic year Reason for leaving 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 Successful completion of course 15,000 22,115 24,915 28,045 25,645 Academic failure/left in bad standing 780 860 1,005 1,010 1,365 Transferred to another institution 80 85 60 405 195 Health reasons 220 210 200 195 190 Death 25 105 110 90 60 Financial reasons 160 120 165 175 185 Personal reasons and dropped out 1,645 1,675 1,485 1,670 1,855 Written off after lapse of time 600 640 740 850 870 Exclusion 30 1,105 1,230 1,450 545 Gone into employment 160 190 145 140 165 Other 960 950 1,170 1,415 880 Completion of course, result unknown 355 290 295 250 240 Unknown 445 755 1,055 760 370 Total who left course not having transferred 5,375 6,905 7,600 8,005 6,730 Total who left in academic year 20,460 29,105 32,570 36,455 32,575 Note: Numbers are rounded to the nearest five so components may not sum to totals. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
The reason for leaving information on the HESA student record should be treated with some caution, because the ‘other personal reasons and dropped out’ and ‘other’ fields are used extensively throughout the time-series. Institutions are not always able to record the precise reason for leaving. Furthermore, HESA allows only one reason for withdrawal to be recorded, however it is likely that many students leave for a combination of reasons.
Tables 1, 2 and 3 are based on different populations of students. Table 1 covers the cohort of full-time first degree starters of all ages in each year. Table 2 covers full-time first degree students aged 21 years and over leaving their courses in each year, regardless of the year of study or which year they began their course. Table 3 covers part-time first degree students aged 21 years and over leaving their courses in each year, regardless of the year of study or which year they began their course.
According to figures published by the OECD, the overall completion rate for type A (first degree equivalent) courses in UK universities and colleges of higher education is among the highest in the OECD countries.