In 2023/24 there were estimated to be over *** million students enrolled in higher education courses in the United Kingdom, compared with 2.94 million in 2022/23, 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 133,265 students enrolled at the UK-based Open University for the 2023/24 academic year, compared with 140,215 in the 2022/23 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.

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.

In 2023/24, the Open University, which focuses on remote learning, had approximately ******* 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 ******, while the University of Manchester had the second-highest, at ******. The UK's oldest university, The University of Oxford, had ****** students studying there in this academic year.

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; ;

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

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

Households with full time students away from home and age of student by number of students. Census Area Statistics Table CAS064 Source: Census 2001 Publisher: Nomis Geographies: Lower Layer Super Output Area (LSOA), Middle Layer Super Output Area (MSOA), Local Authority District (LAD), Government Office Region (GOR), National, Parliamentary Constituency, Urban area Geographic coverage: England and Wales Time coverage: 2001 Type of data: Survey (census)

United Kingdom Number of Students: CD: HE: Saudi Arabia data was reported at 8,070.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8,570.000 Person for 2016. United Kingdom Number of Students: CD: HE: Saudi Arabia data is updated yearly, averaging 8,832.500 Person from Dec 2012 (Median) to 2017, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9,860.000 Person in 2012 and a record low of 8,070.000 Person in 2017. United Kingdom Number of Students: CD: HE: Saudi Arabia 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.

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.

The Higher Education Statistics Agency provides data on student numbers in the UK. Table 3 covers students by HE provider, level and mode of study as well as domicile. https://www.hesa.ac.uk/dox/pressOffice/sfr224/061046_student_sfr224_1415_table_3.xlsx

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.

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

Subject time series data

School sixth form places as reported voluntarily by local authorities; sixth form pupil numbers on roll from the May School Census.

Number of Higher education students in the United Kingdom at further education colleges or higher education providers by gender, level and mode of study, subject and domicile.