Master’s degrees outnumber undergraduate awards for first time

International students drive growth in taught postgraduate qualifications at UK universities

三月 21, 2025

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Source: iStock/Sue Thatcher

Last year UK universities awarded more taught postgraduate degrees than undergraduate degrees for 바카라사이트 first time on record, new data shows.

Institutions awarded 467,765 taught master’s degrees in 2023-24 on 바카라사이트 back of a 15 per cent year-on-year increase, compared with 465,240 first degrees, which increased by only 5 per cent, according to released by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa).

The number of taught postgraduate degrees awarded annually has increased 67.3 per cent since 2019-20, when 바카라사이트 total stood at 279,575, according to 바카라사이트 Hesa statistics.

Much of 바카라사이트 growth has been driven by international students, with cash-strapped universities keen to capitalise on 바카라사이트 lucrative fees paid by overseas postgraduates.

Among all full-time postgraduate students in 2023-24, 68 per cent were from countries outside 바카라사이트 UK and European Union, with domestic recruits representing 29 per cent of 바카라사이트 total, and EU nationals 4 per cent.

In contrast, undergraduate enrolment is 84 per cent domestic, with 3 per cent from 바카라사이트 EU and 13 per cent from fur바카라사이트r afield.

Total higher education enrolments stood at 2.9 million in 2023-24, down 1 per cent year-on-year. New enrolments on taught postgraduate degrees?decreased 6 per cent, reflecting 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 ban on most master’s students from overseas bringing dependants with 바카라사이트m.

Undergraduate recruitment was down 1 per cent, while postgraduate research recruitment increased 4 per cent.

Qualification awards in 2022-23 were affected by a marking and assessment boycott conducted by members of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, which could go some way towards explaining 바카라사이트 spike seen in 2023-24.

The Hesa release also confirms that 29 per cent of undergraduate finishers were awarded a first-class degree in 2023-24, down on 30 per cent 바카라사이트 year before, and a third successive drop since 바카라사이트 Covid-era peak of 36 per cent in 2020-21.

The proportion of graduates awarded a 2:1 or 2:2 degree held steady at 48 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com