This bulletin is the annual first release of HESA student data. It covers data about higher education students and qualifiers from the following types of providers within the UK: Higher education (HE) providers in England registered with the Office for Students (OfS) in the Approved (fee cap) or Approved categories; Publicly funded HE providers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; and Further education (FE) colleges in Wales. These providers submit data to HESA via either the Student record or the Student alternative record. This is the second year that data from both records have been combined together in the figures within this release to provide a more complete picture of higher education within the UK. Further details on coverage can be seen in the notes section of this release. For users wishing to undertake time-series analysis that make use of data drawn exclusively from the HESA Student record (and therefore comparable with the coverage of tables and charts published in previous issues of this bulletin) an option is provided to 'Download source data 051 record only (csv)' underneath each table and chart. Please note that this is the final year this option will be available. HESA do not intend to continue with the production of 051 record only source data. This bulletin also includes information from the HESA Aggregate offshore record and can be seen in figure 12. This separate record counts students studying wholly outside the UK who are either registered with the reporting HE provider or who are studying for an award of the reporting HE provider.

This file contains information on the number of higher education students in the UK, broken down by sex, level of education, mode of study, subject group and domicile.

The UK Performance Indicators (which included non-continuation rates) have been discontinued after the 2020/21 release. These data provide information about the participation of certain groups that are under-represented in higher education. The data includes the percentage of students from state schools or colleges, specified socio-economic classes and low-participation neighbourhoods and provide a breakdown by Higher Education institution. Included in the table are Young full-time undergraduate entrants and Mature full-time undergraduate entrants. Much more data is available from the HESA website.

Over the five years through 2024-25, the Universities industry's revenue is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 2.1% to £56.5 billion. The increase in tuition fees to £9,250 in 2017-18 has been an important driver of revenue growth. However, with tuition fees frozen since then, inflation and particularly high inflation in the two years through 2023-24 has meant their real value has plummeted. The cap on undergraduate student numbers in the UK was lifted in 2020-21, leading to a rise in student enrolments, which has helped prop up universities’ income. Universities have struggled in the face of cuts to the level of research funding received from the government and disruption caused by the pandemic. Teaching went online in the final term of 2019-20 and remained there for most of the 2020-21 academic year due to restrictions imposed following the COVID-19 outbreak, pushing down revenue. However, despite fears of a fall in demand, student applications for 2020-21 rose and continued to climb in the following year. Universities are benefiting from the UK rejoining Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research programme – they’ve been able to access funding since January 2024. However, there are big concerns over ailing international student numbers since they currently prop up univeristy finances and help to subsidise domestic students' places. The introduction of the dependant ban in January 2024 on overseas students bringing family with them on their student visa for taught masters has seen applications from several countries fall. Revenue is still set to grow 1.9% in 2024-25 as funding levels rise and student numbers remain high. From April 2025, the DfE has confirmed tuition fees are due to increase in line with inflation to £9,535, which should lift revenue for universities. Over the five years through 2029-30, university revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 1.2% to reach £60 billion. Strong demand from domestic students will further support revenue growth, with rising tuition fees boosting revenue post 2025. Commitment to the graduate visa route could be a positive signal for international student applicants, but the industry will need more funding intervention to prevent closures and budget cuts.

Students from the Chinese ethnic group had the highest entry rate into higher education in every year from 2006 to 2024.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on mental health; because students are particularly vulnerable to loneliness, isolation, stress and unhealthy lifestyle choices, their mental health and wellbeing may potentially be more severely impacted by lockdown measures than the general population. This study assessed the mental health and wellbeing of UK undergraduate students during and after the lockdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected via online questionnaire at 3 time points – during the latter part of the first wave of the pandemic (spring/summer 2020; n=46) while stringent lockdown measures were still in place but gradually being relaxed; during the second wave of the pandemic (winter 2020-21; n=86) while local lockdowns were in place across the UK; and during the winter of 2021-22 (n=77), when infection rates were high but no lockdown measures were in place. Stress was found to most strongly predict wellbeing and mental health measures during the two pandemic waves. Other substantial predictors were diet quality and intolerance of uncertainty. Positive wellbeing was the least well accounted for of our outcome variables. Conversely, we found that depression and anxiety were higher during winter 2021-22 (no lockdowns) than winter 2020-21 (under lockdown). This may be due to the high rates of infection over that period and the effects of COVID-19 infection itself on mental health. This suggests that, as significant as the effects of lockdowns were on the wellbeing of the nation, not implementing lockdown measures could potentially have been even more detrimental for mental health. The design of the study is a cross-sectional survey. These data were collected via online questionnaire survey (Qualtrics; export attached) distributed at 3 time points (different group of participants at each time point, not repeated measures). We collected data via opportunity sampling from student volunteers. Some of these were collected via our institutional 'participant pool', where students receive credits for participating in studies, and others were collected via advertising on social media etc. The participants were Higher Education students aged 18+ at any UK institution at the time of study entry (including both undergraduate and postgraduate students). There were no other inclusion/ exclusion criteria.

In the academic year 2023/24, there were 331,602 international students from India studying in the United States. International students The majority of international students studying in the United States are originally from India and China, totaling 331,602 students and 277,398 students respectively in the 2023/24 school year. In 2022/23, there were 467,027 international graduate students , which accounted for over one third of the international students in the country. Typically, engineering and math & computer science programs were among the most common fields of study for these students. The United States is home to many world-renowned schools, most notably, the Ivy League Colleges which provide education that is sought after by both foreign and local students. International students and college Foreign students in the United States pay some of the highest fees in the United States, with an average of 24,914 U.S. dollars. American students attending a college in New England paid an average of 14,900 U.S. dollars for tuition alone and there were about 79,751 international students in Massachusetts . Among high-income families, U.S. students paid an average of 34,700 U.S. dollars for college, whereas the average for all U.S. families reached only 28,026 U.S. dollars. Typically, 40 percent of families paid for college tuition through parent income and savings, while 29 percent relied on grants and scholarships.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 include 1,799 universities across 104 countries and regions, making them the largest and most diverse university rankings to date. The table is based on 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across four areas: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

Over the five years through 2025-26, revenue is expected to increase at a compound annual rate of 2.3% to £5 billion. The numerous benefits of online education and training (e.g. reduced learning and development costs, time savings and flexibility and promotion of continuous development) have spurred growth. Recognising its advantages, the government has implemented a series of measures to hasten the uptake of educational technology by investing in improving household internet connections across the UK. The rise in student numbers has supported demand for additional training courses for those looking to boost their grades. The COVID-19 pandemic hiked revenue during 2020-21, with the forced closure of schools and universities pushing many courses online. Many universities are now committed to ensuring lectures and course material are uploaded online, a legacy of the COVID-19 technological wave. Revenue is anticipated to grow by 2.6% over 2025-26, with growth picking up again after naturally slowing following the surge in demand during the pandemic and encouragement from many critics to return to face-to-face learning to improve the learning experience and re-connect classmates. Over the five years through 2030-31, revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 4.6% to £6.2 billion. The COVID-19 pandemic has hastened the adoption of online education and training, as lockdown periods normalised the use of technology and individuals have become accustomed to a new learning method. Unemployment rates are low, but a high number of vacancies remain, despite falling from COVID-19 highs, that aren't being met with the right skills, which is encouraging online learning and training. The number of UK 16- to 18-year-olds participating in full-time education is high, with record university applications that will boost online learning too. The growing skills gap will sustain demand as online platforms look to adapt to the changing job market and provide employees with the skills needed to secure work. The rise of free educational content through social media platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn will constrain future growth. The average profit margin is expected to expand to 18.4% in 2030-31.

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E-Textbook Rental Market Size 2025-2029

The e-textbook rental market size is valued to increase USD 1.39 billion, at a CAGR of 31.2% from 2024 to 2029. Cost-effective pricing model will drive the e-textbook rental market.

Major Market Trends & Insights

APAC dominated the market and accounted for a 35% growth during the forecast period.
By End-user - Academic segment was valued at USD 115.30 billion in 2023
By Revenue Stream - Subscription services segment accounted for the largest market revenue share in 2023

Market Size & Forecast

Market Opportunities: USD 808.01 million
Market Future Opportunities: USD 1389.10 million
CAGR from 2024 to 2029: 31.2%

Market Summary

The market has experienced significant growth, with sales reaching USD 2.2 billion in 2020. This expansion is driven by the cost-effective pricing model that e-textbook rentals offer, allowing students to save up to 80% on textbook costs compared to buying new. Additionally, the integration of software with digital textbooks has become increasingly important, enabling features such as note-taking, highlighting, and search functions, making the learning experience more efficient. However, the market faces a growing threat from open-source content, which is freely available online. The adoption of e-learning platforms and the convenience of accessing textbooks from anywhere at any time are also driving the market's growth. 
Despite this challenge, the future of e-textbook rentals remains promising, as the shift towards digital learning continues to gather momentum. With the flexibility, affordability, and functionality that e-textbook rentals provide, they are poised to become an essential component of the education landscape.

What will be the Size of the E-Textbook Rental Market during the forecast period?

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How is the E-Textbook Rental Market Segmented?

The e-textbook rental industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD million' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

End-user

  Academic
  Non-academic


Revenue Stream

  Subscription services
  Pay-as-you-go-model


Product

  STEM
  Business and economics
  Humanities and social sciences
  Law
  Others


Geography

  North America

    US
    Canada


  Europe

    France
    Germany
    Italy
    UK


  APAC

    Australia
    China
    India
    Japan


  Rest of World (ROW)

By End-user Insights

The academic segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

The market is experiencing significant growth in the academic sector, driven by the increasing preference for digital textbooks among students. With the rising popularity of e-learning platforms, user-friendly interfaces, and mobile devices, the need for digital textbook access has become increasingly important. This shift is particularly noticeable in K-12 schools and higher education institutions, where students can save costs by renting e-textbooks for specific academic periods. Student account management, inventory tracking, and pricing models are essential features of rental management software, ensuring seamless rental processes.

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The Academic segment was valued at USD 115.30 billion in 2019 and showed a gradual increase during the forecast period.

Additionally, accessibility features, such as text-to-speech and adjustable font sizes, cater to diverse learning needs. Integration with e-learning platforms, learning management systems, and course scheduling systems further enhances the user experience. Customer data privacy, secure data storage, and payment processing fees are crucial considerations for rental providers, along with automated email notifications, customer support channels, and damage assessment procedures. The use of recommendation algorithms and digital rights management systems ensures a personalized and secure rental experience.

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Regional Analysis

APAC is estimated to contribute 35% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Technavio's analysts have elaborately explained the regional trends and drivers that shape the market during the forecast period.

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The market is experiencing steady growth, particularly in North America, driven by the increasing adoption of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies and robust IT infrastructure in advanced economies like the US. This region is home to numerous start-ups and e-textbook rental service providers, contributing significantly to the market's expansion. The higher education segment, which includes institutions offering distance learning courses, is witnessing a surge in