The UK’s higher education sector had a record 2,937,155 students enrolled in the 2022/23 academic year, representing a 2.77% increase from the previous year, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
This growth has been driven in part by the increasing number of international students, who now make up 26% of the total student population. Of the 758,855 international students studying in the UK, 95,505 come from the European Union, while a substantial 663,355 come from non-EU countries.
Undergraduate students remain the largest group within the student body, with 2,053,520 students enrolled. Among these, 1,888,450 are pursuing their first degree. The postgraduate sector also boasts significant numbers, with 883,635 students enrolled. This includes 619,795 students working towards a taught master's degree, and 115,705 engaged in doctorate-level research.
The gender distribution within higher education reveals that female students outnumber their male counterparts. In 2022/23, 1,668,600 students were female, compared to 1,251,815 male students.
In terms of educational background, a clear majority of UK-domiciled full-time undergraduate students come from state-funded schools or colleges, with 91% having attended such institutions, while 9% were educated at private schools.