UK Higher Education Enrollments Experience a Slight Decline in 2024-25 Academic Year
The landscape of higher education in the United Kingdom has witnessed a subtle shift, with overall student enrollments experiencing a decline in the 2024-25 academic year. According to the latest data released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), total enrollments stood at 28,63,180, marking a decrease from 29,00,240 in the previous year. This represents a 1 per cent drop, primarily attributed to a continued downturn in postgraduate taught programs, despite positive trends in other areas.
First Degree Courses Remain the Most Popular Pathway
First degree courses have maintained their position as the most favored route into higher education, accounting for 51 per cent of all enrollments. Entrants to first degree programs saw a modest increase of 2 per cent, reaching 6,68,170. However, this growth was offset by a sharp 7 per cent decline in other undergraduate courses, highlighting a mixed performance across different educational levels.
Postgraduate Taught Enrollments Face Significant Pressure
The most notable area of concern is the postgraduate taught sector, where entrant numbers fell by 5 per cent. This decline extends a downward trend that began in 2022-23 and is largely driven by international students. Enrollments from outside the European Union dropped by 10 per cent, while EU entrants decreased by 8 per cent. In contrast, UK-domiciled postgraduate taught numbers remained relatively stable.
International students constitute a significant portion of this segment, with 68 per cent of full-time postgraduate students hailing from outside the UK. However, the sector experienced its second consecutive annual decrease in the total number of these students. Non-UK entrants to taught master’s degrees fell by 10 per cent from the previous year, with notable declines from key countries:
- India: -12 per cent
- China: -5 per cent
- Nigeria: -33 per cent
Conversely, numbers from Pakistan increased by 5 per cent, and Nepal emerged as a top-five country of origin for non-EU entrants, with 17,385 students starting UK higher education courses in 2024-25—a dramatic rise from 1,165 in 2020-21.
Growth in Postgraduate Research and Transnational Education
Amidst the challenges, there are areas of resilience and growth. Postgraduate research enrollments increased by 11 per cent year-on-year, indicating sustained demand for doctoral-level studies. Additionally, transnational education (TNE) students studying wholly overseas for UK qualifications rose by 8 per cent to 6,69,950, nearly matching the number of international students studying in the UK (6,85,565). Since 2020-21, the total number of TNE students has grown by 37 per cent, encompassing distance learners, overseas campus attendees, and students at foreign universities.
Qualification Awards Reflect Enrollment Trends
The decline in enrollments is mirrored in qualification outcomes. A total of 10,43,665 higher education qualifications were awarded in 2024-25, a 1 per cent decrease from the previous year. Key highlights include:
- 4,76,530 first degrees awarded, with 30 per cent receiving first class honours—up by one percentage point.
- 26,175 doctorate degrees awarded, 54 per cent to UK students.
- 361,305 master’s degrees awarded, a 5 per cent decrease, with 73 per cent going to non-UK students.
Postgraduate taught awards fell by 5 per cent, reversing strong growth seen since 2019-20.
Subject-Specific Trends and Future Initiatives
Subject areas also showed varied trends. The number of students in language and area studies continued to decline, falling by 6 per cent. In contrast, computing subjects saw a 7 per cent increase, with artificial intelligence growing by an impressive 21 per cent. Business and management remains the most popular subject, accounting for 20 per cent of all higher education students.
Looking ahead, the UK has established a new Education Sector Action Group to collaborate with the International Education Champion, universities, colleges, and schools. This initiative aims to remove trade barriers and expand the country’s education and skills offerings in high-growth markets, potentially addressing some of the enrollment challenges observed.
In summary, the UK higher education sector is navigating a period of adjustment, with declines in postgraduate taught enrollments balanced by growth in research and transnational education. The shifting dynamics among international student demographics, particularly from countries like India, underscore the need for strategic adaptations to maintain the UK’s global educational appeal.
