Master’s boom driven by overseas enrolments

The number of postgraduate taught qualifications awarded by UK universities increased by more than a quarter in just two years, figures show.

Delayed data released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) on 29 August show that there were 405,280 qualifications awarded at PGT level – mostly master’s degrees – in 2022-23, the most recent year on record.

This was up from 320,680 in 2020-21, with international students accounting for more than half (56 per cent).

The number of postgraduate research qualifications awarded was also up in 2022-23, reaching 28,245 from a low of 25,100 in 2020-21, a period affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

But the Hesa data show a 3 per cent drop in enrolments on PGR courses in 2022-23, falling to 32,605, the lowest level in 10 years.

Hesa said the number of postgraduate taught qualifications in computing subjects shot up by 111 per cent over the two years, including a 139 per cent rise in artificial intelligence qualifications. There was also 50 per cent growth in business and management courses, including MBAs.

Across the sector as a whole, more than 750,000 students were pursuing PGT degrees in the period, with more than 400,000 of them registered at addresses outside the UK.

The figures date from before changes were made to the UK visa rules, with a ban on bringing dependants causing a crash in international enrolments in 2024.

Undergraduate degrees awarded remained stable, falling by 1 per cent in the two-year period, with 81 per cent of first degrees awarded to UK students. Medicine degrees saw the biggest rise, while languages fell by more than 4,000.

Hesa introduced a new sector-wide student data model for its 2022-23 figures, leading to their publication being delayed from January to August, fuelling concerns that the information is already significantly out of date by the time it arrives.

Many universities study the figures to make decisions about their recruitment, course provision and accommodation.

The latest release follows data that emerged in early August showing that 29.5 per cent of students at UK institutions received first-class degrees in 2022-23 – down from 32.1 per cent the year before, and the peak of 36.4 per cent in 2020-21.

More data will be released on 12 September, completing the 2022-23 set, including figures showing non-UK students by higher education provider and country of permanent address.

tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com