In 2022/23 there were estimated to be over **** million students enrolled in higher education courses in the United Kingdom, which was the highest number of enrolled students during this provided time period. Although the number of students in the UK fell from *** million in 2011/12 to **** by 2014/15, this trend reversed in subsequent years, reaching the peak in the most recent year. Largest UK universities At ******* students, the mainly remote, Open University had the largest number of students enrolled among UK-based higher education institutions in 2022/23. University College London had the second-highest number of students at ******, followed by the University of Manchester at ******. At the UK's two oldest and most prestigious universities, Oxford and Cambridge, there were ******, and ****** students respectively. The university with the most students in Scotland was the University of Glasgow at *******students, with Wales' being Cardiff University at ****** students, and Northern Ireland's Ulster University having ****** students. Student Debt in the UK For students that graduated from English universities in 2024, the average student loan debt incurred over the course of their studies was over ****** British pounds. Although students graduated with less debt from universities in Wales, Northern Ireland, and especially Scotland, this too has been growing recently. In 2024, students from Scottish Universities graduated with an average of ****** pounds of debt, compared with ****** in Wales, and ****** in Northern Ireland. The overall outstanding student loan debt in the UK reached over *** billion pounds in 2023/24, with the vast majority of this debt from students who studied in England.

There were 140,215 students enrolled at the UK-based Open University for the 2022/23 academic year, compared with 151,840 in the 2021/22 academic year, which was by far the highest number of students enrolled during this provided time period and a reflection of the move towards distant learning after the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2022/23, the Open University, which focuses on remote learning, had approximately 140,215 students enrolled on courses, the highest in the UK during that academic year. After the Open University, University College London had the highest number of students in the UK, at 51,810, while the University of Manchester had the second-highest, at 46,860. The UK's oldest university, The University of Oxford, had approximately 27,340 students studying there.

United Kingdom UK: Over-Age Students: Primary: % of Enrollment data was reported at 1.126 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.067 % for 2014. United Kingdom UK: Over-Age Students: Primary: % of Enrollment data is updated yearly, averaging 1.594 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2015, with 31 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.386 % in 1979 and a record low of 0.000 % in 2003. United Kingdom UK: Over-Age Students: Primary: % of Enrollment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Over-age students are the percentage of those enrolled who are older than the official school-age range for primary education.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; ;

United Kingdom UK: School Enrollment: Secondary: Private: % of Total Secondary data was reported at 70.828 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 69.494 % for 2014. United Kingdom UK: School Enrollment: Secondary: Private: % of Total Secondary data is updated yearly, averaging 27.445 % from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2015, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 70.828 % in 2015 and a record low of 24.869 % in 2007. United Kingdom UK: School Enrollment: Secondary: Private: % of Total Secondary data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Private enrollment refers to pupils or students enrolled in institutions that are not operated by a public authority but controlled and managed, whether for profit or not, by a private body such as a nongovernmental organization, religious body, special interest group, foundation or business enterprise.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

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

There were approximately 10.63 million pupils attending schools in the United Kingdom in 2023/24, compared with 10.7 million in the previous year and 9.65 million in 2010/11.

This statistic shows the number of students enrolled in United Kingdom (UK) higher education institutions in the 2018/19 academic year, by nationality. In this year, there were just over ****** Chinese students enrolled in Higher Education providers in the UK.

United Kingdom Number of Students: CD: HE: Others data was reported at 105,130.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 107,040.000 Person for 2016. United Kingdom Number of Students: CD: HE: Others data is updated yearly, averaging 106,887.500 Person from Dec 2012 (Median) to 2017, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 107,895.000 Person in 2015 and a record low of 103,790.000 Person in 2013. United Kingdom Number of Students: CD: HE: Others data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Higher Education Statistics Agency. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.G066: Higher Education Student Enrolments: By Country of Domicile.

During the 2022/2023 academic year, there were approximately 2.4 million full-time and sandwich students in the United Kingdom (UK), with almost 343,000 occupying provider-maintained property and roughly 191,000 in private-sector halls. The largest share of students, 732,000 occupied other rented accommodation.

The international student population of England and Wales by country of birth, passport held, age, sex and other characteristics.

In the academic year of 2022/32, more than ******* Chinese students were studying in the United Kingdom. The number of Chinese students studying in British higher education institutions increased by more than ** percent in the last decade. An attractive destination for Chinese students In recent years, the United Kingdom has overtaken the United States as the top choice among the destination countries for Chinese prospective students. The more affordable tuition fees in the country compared to destinations such as the United States and Australia, the shorter duration of the postgraduate programs, and the reputation of British universities as seen in international rankings have all contributed to the high popularity of the United Kingdom among Chinese students and employers. The diversification of international study destinations At the same time, destinations for Chinese students have become more diverse. The high academic and research performance of the United States in many sectors continues to make it a desirable destination for affluent Chinese students. For students from middle-class or less well-off backgrounds, studying in places such as Japan, Germany, and France are more practical options as these countries offer more affordable programs.

United Kingdom Number of Students: CD: HE: China: England data was reported at 80,385.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 77,770.000 Person for 2016. United Kingdom Number of Students: CD: HE: China: England data is updated yearly, averaging 69,910.000 Person from Dec 2009 (Median) to 2017, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 80,385.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 40,160.000 Person in 2009. United Kingdom Number of Students: CD: HE: China: England data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Higher Education Statistics Agency. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.G066: Higher Education Student Enrolments: By Country of Domicile.

United Kingdom Number of Students: CD: HE: Singapore data was reported at 7,305.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7,535.000 Person for 2016. United Kingdom Number of Students: CD: HE: Singapore data is updated yearly, averaging 7,040.000 Person from Dec 2012 (Median) to 2017, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7,535.000 Person in 2016 and a record low of 5,290.000 Person in 2012. United Kingdom Number of Students: CD: HE: Singapore data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Higher Education Statistics Agency. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.G066: Higher Education Student Enrolments: By Country of Domicile.

This statistical bulletin details the number of students enrolled at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in NI and NI domiciled students enrolled at HEIs in the United Kingdom (UK) in the academic year 2007/08. The bulletin tables also contain summary information on NI students enrolled on Higher Education (HE) courses at Institutions in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and at Further Education colleges in the UK.

Source agency: Employment and Learning (Northern Ireland)

Designation: National Statistics

Language: English

Alternative title: Student enrolments on Higher Education courses: Northern Ireland

In 2024/25, there were approximately **** million students with special educational needs in England, compared with **** million in the previous year, and **** million in 2015/16.

In the 10 years to July 2024, the percentage of further education students who were from Asian, Black, Mixed and Other ethnic backgrounds went up from 19.7% to 27.9%.