The latest available non-completion rates are given in the following table:
Proportion (percentage) 1997-98 15.8 1998-99 15.9 1999-00 15.8 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. Notes: 1. Figures from the 1996-97 academic year have been excluded due to a change in methodology between 1996-97 and 1997-98. 2. Figures for years earlier than 1996-97 are not available.
Figures for the 2005-06 academic year will be available later this 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 amongst the highest in the OECD countries (the UK ranks 5th out of 23 countries who report data in this area).
Non-completion rates are not broken down by degree subject. However a sector-wide non-continuation rate is provided for each year, which is broken down by subject of study. The non-continuation rate is the proportion of entrants to full-time first degree courses who are no longer in higher education after one year of study. The rates for young entrants are shown in the table.
Percentage Degree subject 1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 Medicine, dentistry and veterinary science 2.0 2.0 2.4 1.8 2.0 1.9 Subjects allied to medicine 6.3 6.0 5.9 6.4 7.7 6.8 Biological sciences1 16.9 16.0 16.1 17.1 7.3 6.8 Physical sciences1 1— 1— 1— 1— 6.1 6.0 Agriculture and related subjects 6.8 7.0 11.4 7.5 8.3 8.0 Mathematical sciences2 29.8 28.0 28.4 29.4 5.5 5.3 Computer sciences2 2— 2— 2— 2— 10.3 10.3 Engineering and technology 10.1 9.0 8.9 10.0 10.1 9.1 Architecture, building, planning 9.6 8.0 10.2 11.1 10.0 8.3 Social studies3 36.9 36.0 36.4 37.0 7.2 6.9 Law3 3— 3— 3— 3— 6.2 5.5 Librarianship, information sciences4 46.9 48.0 48.2 n/a n/a n/a Business and administrative studies4, 5 4— 4— 4— 58.8 8.8 8.2 Mass communications and documentation5 n/a n/a n/a 5— 8.5 8.6 Humanities6 65.9 65.0 65.7 n/a n/a n/a Languages6, 7 6— 6— 6— 76.3 6.3 5.7 Historical and philosophical studies7 n/a n/a n/a 7— 5.9 5.0 Creative arts and design 8.7 8.0 8.3 8.2 8.4 8.1 Education 8.6 8.0 8.1 8.0 7.5 7.6 Combined subjects 8.8 8.0 8.2 14.3 13.5 14.3 All subjects 7.8 7.0 7.3 7.8 7.7 7.2 n/a = Not applicable. 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. Note: 1. Figures for 2000/01 are only available to the nearest integer. 2. There is a break in the time series between academic years 2001/02 and 2002/03 because the subjects’ JACS coding was changed in 2002/03. Source: Performance Indicators In Higher Education, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
Subject rankings for non-continuation rates change over the years. However, medicine, dentistry and veterinary science consistently have the lowest non-continuation rates over the time series.
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 UK ranks 5th out of 23 countries who report data in this area).