In 2011-12, before £9,000 fees were introduced, 35 per cent of the £28 billion the universities received came through tuition charges, up from per cent in 2007-08. Just 30 per cent came from funding body grants, down from 36 per cent four years before.
The data come from a summary of statistics published by Hesa on 19 September.
The figures also show that of the 2.5 million students in the UK in 2011-12, 56 per cent were female.
Half of all qualifications awarded that year were first degrees, with 42 per cent of all students studying science.
The data also suggest that three-quarters of graduates were employed six months after leaving university and 21 per cent were in further study. Seven per cent were doing both.
Source: Higher Education Statistics for the UK 2011/12, Hesa. Percentages are rounded and may not add up to 100%