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Higher Education (Skills and Learning, State of the South West 2011)

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4.11.1 More than two-fifths (45%) of young people aged 17 to 30 in England participated in Higher Education (HE) (see more) in 2008/09, with girls (51%) substantially more likely to study at this level than boys (40%). The participation rate has increased by three percentage points since 2006/07 with student numbers increasing by 10% over the same period. The national aspiration is for 50% of 18 to 30 year olds to be in HE by 2011 (PSA 2 Indicator 6).

4.11.2 Around 156,000 students domiciled in the South West were participating in HE in 2008/09. Student numbers had fallen slightly in the year to 2007/08 due to changes in HE funding, which affected the number of post-graduates, many of whom are part-time. The number of undergraduates, particularly those who are full-time, has continued to grow year on year, and has seen overall student numbers rise again in 2008/09

4.11.3 The South West has a lower percentage of young full time first degree entrants (aged 21 or under) from under-represented groups than the national average. Just 7% of young entrants are from low participation neighbourhoods (compared with 10% nationally), over one quarter (28%) are from lower socio-economic classes (compared with 32% nationally) and 84% are from state schools or colleges (compared with 88% nationally).
4.11.4 The South West has 12 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Together, they educate more than 162,000 students of whom 158,900 are studying HE-level qualifications (Table 3). They generated income of £1,487 million in 2008/09. The number of HE students attending institutions in the South West increased by 8,900 (or 6%) between 2008/09 and 2007/08. Most of this growth was among home domiciled students (74%), undergraduates (63%) and full-time students (71%). However, the fastest growing groups in percentage terms were international students (14%) and postgraduates (10%) and, in particular, postgraduates studying full-time (12%).

Characteristics of Higher Education Institutions in the South West: 2008/9 Table 4.11.1




High Education Students Full-time first degree entrants

Total % non-UK domicled Total % who are young  % from state schools or colleges % from low participation neighbourhoods







University of the West of England 31,645 9 5,450 80 89 9
The University of Plymouth 30,930 7 4,895 72 95 10
The University of Bristol 21,000 19 3,140 95 60 3
Bournemouth University 17,965 11 3,135 78 95 7
The University of Exeter 16,195 19 3,395 92 71 4
The University of Bath 13,380 28 1,895 92 76 4
University of Gloucestershire 9,255 7 1,880 79 96 9
Bath Spa University 8,160 3 1,395 80 95 8
UC Plymouth St Mark and St John 4,080 3 650 64 100 13
University College Falmouth 3,030 6 915 79 97 10
The Arts Institute at Bournemouth 2,295 10 730 83 98 6
Royal Agricultural College 970 13 215 89 42 3
Total: South West 158,905 12 27,695 82 84 7
Total:  England 2,005,840 15 293,205 78 88 10
Source: HESA data




4.11.5 During 2008/09, 44,100 students obtained HE qualifications in HEIs in the South West, down by 3% on the previous year. More than half (56%) of students obtained a first degree, just under one quarter (23%), a postgraduate qualification; 8% gained a Foundation Degree and around 13% achieved other qualifications. Just under 1,000 students were an awarded a PhDs or equivalent. Three-fifths (60%) of the region’s full-time first degree graduates entered employment either in the UK or overseas after graduating in 2009. A quarter (25%) went onto further study, either on its own or combined with employment, and 8% were unemployed. A further 5% were not available for employment and 1% had another known destination. Of the 19,160 graduates from South West HEIs in 2007/08, some 60% remained in the region to gain employment.