Million Plus

MillionPlus, the Association for Modern Universities, has today (12 January) responded to the Higher Education Statistics Agency’s Statistical First Release of student enrolments and qualifications obtained by higher education students at HE providers in the United Kingdom for the academic year 2015/16. The latest figures show a continued fall in the number of part-time students. In 2011/12, 31% of all enrolments were part-time. By 2014/15 this had reduced to 25% of all enrolments but the HESA data release for 2015/16 concludes that part-time enrolments accounted for just 24% of all enrolments.

Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of MillionPlus, said:

“Studying on a part-time basis has been a valuable feature of UK higher education, but these figures confirm that the current funding regime is proving less and less attractive to part-time students. This is a lost opportunity not only for individuals but also for government, since part-time students are often those who have not chosen or been able to study at university when then they were younger.

“In spite of the concern of MPs and members of the House of Lords this matter is not addressed in the HE and Research Bill. It is clear that outside of the Bill, Ministers need to work with students, potential students, employers and universities to investigate the reasons why those who might study part-time are not choosing to do so and bring forward a new strategy.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. MillionPlus is the Association for Modern Universities. More information can be found at www.millionplus.ac.uk
2. Modern universities: key facts
3. The Statistical First Release (SFR) provides details of student enrolments and qualifications obtained by higher education (HE) students at HE providers in the United Kingdom (UK) for the academic year 2015/16. The full details are available here
4. For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Dan Blows on 020 7717 1658 or email press@millionplus.ac.uk