The Student Experience: Student statistics
Introduction
This web page contains statistics about English studies and Creative Writing students compiled by official sources, notably the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). They are made available here should members of the community need to refer to them. Jane Gawthrope, the English Subject Centre Manager, is happy to try to answer any statistical enquiries that you may have.
Student numbers 2003-2008 showing subject of study, mode and level of study, domicile and gender
The tables below were commissioned by the English Subject Centre from HESA in 2010 in order to provide a breakdown of all English subjects using JACS codes. (In the publicly available HESA data only the single heading ‘English studies’ is used.) The tables below also give the figures for creative writing (JACS code W8 ‘Imaginative Writing’ which includes script, poetry and prose writing).
There are six tables, each giving the data for a different year, preceded by a summary table showing the growth in student numbers from 2003/04 to 2008/09.
Notes:
1. The following abbreviations are used: FT=full time; PT=part time; PG=postgraduate; UG=undergraduate
2. ‘Postgraduate’ (PG) includes both taught and research postgraduate students.
3. HESA warns that it is possible for some institutions to code certain subjects generically at this level of detail e.g. some students studying Q321 ‘English literature by period‘, may actually be classified as Q300 ‘English studies‘.
4.HESA Student Record 2003/04 – 2008/09 HESA does not accept any liability for any inferences or conclusions derived from the Data by the Client or any third party. Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency 2010.
| Year | total HE students | Q300 English Studies | Q310 Language | Q320 Literature | W8 Imag. Writing | Total HE FT PGs | Total HE PT PGs | Total HE FT UGs | Total HE PT UGs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008/09 | 66158 | 37958 | 4124 | 13104 | 6149 | 4309 | 3522 | 44369 | 13959 |
| 2007/08 | 67323 | 42608 | 3753 | 12032 | 5415 | 4121 | 3302 | 43524 | 16374 |
| 2006/07 | 65637 | 43049 | 3161 | 10522 | 6465 | 4163 | 3272 | 41503 | 16703 |
| 2005/06 | 63224 | 42999 | 2915 | 9398 | 5825 | 4059 | 2920 | 40685 | 15564 |
| 2004/05 | 62619 | 43626 | 2693 | 8957 | 5145 | 3701 | 2885 | 39523 | 16509 |
| 2003/04 | 61385 | 44135 | 2234 | 8105 | 3985 | 3572 | 2900 | 39996 | 14916 |
| increase between 2003/4 & 2008/09 |
8% | -14% | 85% | 62% | 54% | 21% | 21% | 11% | -6% |
Source: HESA Student Record 2003/04 – 2008/09 HESA does not accept any liability for any inferences or conclusions derived from the Data by the Client or any third party. Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency 2010
Note: It is possible for some institutions to code certain subjects generically at this level of detail e.g. some students studying Q321 ‘English literature by period‘, may actually be classified as Q300 ‘English Studies’.
| 4 digit subject of study | Total HE Students |
FT- PG | FT- UG |
PT- PG | PT- UG |
UK Total | UK Female |
UK Male |
EU Total | EU Female |
EU Male |
Non EU Total | Non EU Female |
Non EU Male |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Q300) English studies | 37958 | 2243 | 28292 | 1554 | 5869 | 33465 | 23967 | 9498 | 1590 | 960 | 630 | 2903 | 1657 | 1246 |
| (Q310) English language | 4124 | 246 | 3312 | 121 | 446 | 3221 | 2351 | 870 | 359 | 226 | 133 | 545 | 285 | 260 |
| (Q320) English literature | 13104 | 574 | 7654 | 465 | 4412 | 12624 | 9339 | 3285 | 199 | 146 | 53 | 282 | 206 | 76 |
| (Q321) English literature by period |
593 | 287 | 1 | 82 | 223 | 484 | 350 | 134 | 28 | 22 | 6 | 81 | 58 | 23 |
| (Q322) English literature by author |
100 | 22 | 0 | 15 | 63 | 89 | 69 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 3 |
| (Q323) English literature by topic |
265 | 91 | 2 | 121 | 52 | 226 | 181 | 45 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 32 | 28 | 4 |
| (Q330) English as a second language |
3721 | 83 | 1783 | 13 | 1841 | 225 | 137 | 88 | 609 | 337 | 273 | 2886 | 1301 | 1585 |
| (Q340) English literature written as a second language |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| (Q390) English studies not elsewhere classified | 143 | 60 | 56 | 10 | 17 | 128 | 91 | 37 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 4 |
| (W8) Imaginative writing | 6149 | 705 | 3268 | 1142 | 1035 | 5776 | 3391 | 2385 | 155 | 112 | 44 | 217 | 161 | 57 |
| 2007/8 Total |
66158 | 4309 | 44369 | 3522 | 13959 | 56239 | 39877 | 16362 | 2954 | 1814 | 1140 | 6966 | 3708 | 3258 |
| 4 digit subject of study | Total HE Students |
FT- PG | FT- UG |
PT- PG | PT- UG |
UK Total | UK Female |
UK Male |
EU Total | EU Female |
EU Male |
Non EU Total | Non EU Female |
Non EU Male |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Q300) English studies | 42608.2 | 2546.9 | 29183.8 | 1413.8 | 9463.8 | 37074.6 | 26205.2 | 10869.4 | 1687.1 | 1066.5 | 620.5 | 3846.5 | 2289.9 | 1556.7 |
| (Q310) English language | 3753.7 | 227.1 | 2968.2 | 122.8 | 435.6 | 2976.4 | 2126.0 | 850.5 | 324.9 | 207.4 | 117.5 | 452.4 | 198.7 | 253.7 |
| (Q320) English literature | 12032.9 | 434.5 | 7361.0 | 543.3 | 3694.1 | 11624.7 | 8598.0 | 3026.7 | 169.6 | 131.1 | 38.5 | 238.5 | 178.5 | 60.0 |
| (Q321) English literature by period |
296.3 | 154.8 | 3.0 | 72.0 | 66.5 | 242.1 | 189.3 | 52.8 | 21.1 | 19.1 | 2.0 | 33.1 | 24.1 | 9.0 |
| (Q322) English literature by author |
103.0 | 24.0 | 0.0 | 18.0 | 61.0 | 96.0 | 64.0 | 32.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 |
| (Q323) English literature by topic |
584.3 | 80.5 | 14.7 | 126.0 | 363.2 | 533.8 | 387.5 | 146.3 | 17.0 | 15.0 | 2.0 | 33.5 | 27.0 | 6.5 |
| (Q330) English as a second language |
2336.4 | 54.0 | 1112.9 | 23.5 | 1146.0 | 197.1 | 140.5 | 56.7 | 525.0 | 305.4 | 219.6 | 1614.3 | 718.6 | 895.7 |
| (Q340) English literature written as a second language |
9.0 | 0.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 9.0 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| (Q390) English studies not elsewhere classified | 184.2 | 54.5 | 96.2 | 23.0 | 10.5 | 131.8 | 94.3 | 37.6 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 1.0 | 43.4 | 32.0 | 11.4 |
| (W8) Imaginative writing | 5415 | 545 | 2780 | 960 | 1130 | 5035 | 3020 | 2015 | 135 | 90 | 45 | 240 | 180 | 65 |
| 2007/8 Total |
67323.0 | 4121.3 | 43524.7 | 3302.4 | 16374.6 | 57920.6 | 40831.7 | 17088.9 | 2891.7 | 1845.6 | 1046.1 | 6505.7 | 3651.8 | 2858.9 |
| 4 digit subject of study | Total HE Students |
FT- PG | FT- UG |
PT- PG | PT- UG |
UK Total | UK Female |
UK Male |
EU Total | EU Female |
EU Male |
Non EU Total | Non EU Female |
Non EU Male |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Q300) English studies | 43049.7 | 2609.3 | 30142.1 | 1535.8 | 8762.4 | 36811.0 | 26331.9 | 10479.1 | 1915.5 | 1256.3 | 659.2 | 4323.2 | 2518.7 | 1804.5 |
| (Q310) English language | 3161.5 | 145.0 | 2408.8 | 65.0 | 542.7 | 2469.3 | 1787.2 | 682.2 | 248.8 | 171.3 | 77.5 | 443.3 | 244.3 | 199.0 |
| (Q320) English literature | 10522.0 | 470.5 | 5745.7 | 520.5 | 3785.3 | 10162.7 | 7573.5 | 2589.2 | 151.0 | 118.8 | 32.2 | 208.3 | 155.2 | 53.2 |
| (Q321) English literature by period |
258.0 | 162.5 | 5.5 | 87.0 | 3.0 | 201.0 | 135.0 | 66.0 | 24.0 | 20.0 | 4.0 | 33.0 | 23.0 | 10.0 |
| (Q322) English literature by author |
183.0 | 13.0 | 0.0 | 8.0 | 162.0 | 177.0 | 149.0 | 28.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| (Q323) English literature by topic |
202.2 | 51.5 | 2.7 | 91.0 | 57.0 | 161.7 | 138.3 | 23.3 | 13.7 | 11.7 | 2.0 | 26.8 | 20.8 | 6.0 |
| (Q330) English as a second language |
1605.2 | 147.0 | 615.0 | 10.0 | 833.2 | 147.3 | 89.2 | 58.2 | 432.3 | 239.0 | 193.3 | 1025.5 | 474.8 | 550.7 |
| (Q340) English literature written as a second language |
55.0 | 0.0 | 52.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 55.0 | 43.0 | 12.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| (Q390) English studies not elsewhere classified | 136.2 | 59.5 | 26.7 | 35.0 | 15.0 | 95.3 | 67.2 | 28.2 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 34.8 | 26.3 | 8.5 |
| (W8) Imaginative writing | 6465 | 505.0 | 2505 | 920 | 2540.0 | 6135 | 3765 | 2375 | 120 | 80 | 40 | 210 | 135 | 75 |
| 2006/07 Total | 65637.7 | 4163.3 | 41503.4 | 3272.3 | 16703.6 | 56415.3 | 40079.3 | 16341.1 | 2913.3 | 1902.2 | 1011.2 | 6309.0 | 3600.2 | 2708.8 |
| 4 digit subject of study | Total HE Students |
FT- PG | FT- UG |
PT- PG | PT- UG |
UK Total | UK Female |
UK Male |
EU Total | EU Female |
EU Male |
Non EU Total | Non EU Female |
Non EU Male |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Q300) English studies | 42999.0 | 2769.5 | 30419.8 | 1788.5 | 8021.2 | 37631.0 | 27078.1 | 10552.9 | 1800.3 | 1206.3 | 594.0 | 3567.7 | 2130.8 | 1436.8 |
| (Q310) English language | 2915.8 | 123.5 | 2250.8 | 47.5 | 494.0 | 2276.2 | 1655.5 | 620.7 | 201.5 | 126.2 | 75.3 | 438.2 | 245.2 | 193.0 |
| (Q320) English literature | 9398.2 | 361.5 | 4975.0 | 166.0 | 3895.7 | 9091.5 | 6864.7 | 2226.8 | 130.7 | 103.2 | 27.5 | 176.0 | 128.7 | 47.3 |
| (Q321) English literature by period |
287.3 | 134.0 | 7.5 | 86.0 | 59.8 | 246.8 | 169.3 | 77.5 | 10.5 | 9.0 | 1.5 | 30.0 | 24.0 | 6.0 |
| (Q322) English literature by author |
169.0 | 11.0 | 0.0 | 18.0 | 140.0 | 164.0 | 128.0 | 36.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 |
| (Q323) English literature by topic |
207.3 | 34.0 | 3.3 | 66.0 | 104.0 | 184.3 | 158.0 | 26.3 | 10.7 | 7.7 | 3.0 | 12.3 | 10.3 | 2.0 |
| (Q330) English as a second language |
1252.0 | 112.5 | 724.2 | 5.5 | 409.8 | 133.8 | 86.0 | 47.8 | 190.2 | 99.7 | 90.5 | 928.0 | 488.8 | 439.2 |
| (Q340) English literature written as a second language |
0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| (Q390) English studies not elsewhere classified | 170.8 | 53.0 | 54.8 | 38.0 | 25.0 | 128.8 | 82.3 | 46.5 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 35.0 | 28.0 | 7.0 |
| (W8) Imaginative writing | 5825 | 460.0 | 2250 | 705.0 | 2415 | 5580 | 3480 | 2095 | 100 | 60 | 40 | 145 | 105 | 45 |
| 2005/06 Total | 63224.5 | 4059.0 | 40685.5 | 2920.5 | 15564.5 | 55436.5 | 39701.9 | 15729.6 | 2451.8 | 1619.0 | 832.8 | 5336.2 | 3163.8 | 2177.3 |
| 4 digit subject of study | Total HE Students |
FT- PG | FT- UG |
PT- PG | PT- UG |
UK Total | UK Female |
UK Male |
EU Total | EU Female |
EU Male |
Non EU Total | Non EU Female |
Non EU Male |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Q300) English studies | 43626.5 | 2526.2 | 30621.9 | 1852.3 | 8626.1 | 38275.6 | 27706.1 | 10569.5 | 1508.3 | 1042.4 | 465.8 | 3842.7 | 2178.2 | 1664.5 |
| (Q310) English language | 2639.7 | 110.5 | 1948.2 | 44.5 | 536.5 | 1918.2 | 1426.3 | 491.8 | 193.3 | 104.5 | 88.8 | 528.2 | 284.3 | 243.8 |
| (Q320) English literature | 8957.3 | 337.0 | 4385.7 | 166.0 | 4068.7 | 8682.0 | 6666.8 | 2015.2 | 112.8 | 93.5 | 19.3 | 162.5 | 118.8 | 43.7 |
| (Q321) English literature by period |
370.2 | 192.5 | 9.2 | 87.0 | 81.5 | 293.2 | 212.7 | 80.5 | 24.0 | 18.5 | 5.5 | 53.0 | 36.5 | 16.5 |
| (Q322) English literature by author |
204.0 | 9.0 | 0.0 | 18.0 | 177.0 | 199.0 | 157.0 | 42.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 |
| (Q323) English literature by topic |
166.0 | 35.0 | 4.0 | 57.0 | 70.0 | 135.0 | 119.7 | 15.3 | 10.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 21.0 | 18.0 | 3.0 |
| (Q330) English as a second language |
1373.0 | 51.0 | 740.7 | 1.5 | 579.8 | 121.0 | 81.0 | 40.0 | 150.2 | 72.8 | 77.3 | 1101.8 | 558.7 | 543.2 |
| (Q340) English literature written as a second language |
0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| (Q390) English studies not elsewhere classified | 138.0 | 70.0 | 24.0 | 29.0 | 15.0 | 69.0 | 44.0 | 25.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 63.0 | 51.0 | 12.0 |
| (W8) Imaginative writing | 5145 | 370.0 | 1790 | 630.0 | 2355 | 4945 | 3095 | 1850 | 85 | 55 | 35 | 115 | 80 | 30 |
| 2004/05 Total | 62619.7 | 3701.2 | 39523.6 | 2885.3 | 16509.6 | 54637.9 | 39508.6 | 15129.3 | 2091.6 | 1399.7 | 696.8 | 5890.2 | 3327.5 | 2557.7 |
| 4 digit subject of study | Total HE Students |
FT- PG | FT- UG |
PT- PG | PT- UG |
UK Total | UK Female |
UK Male |
EU Total | EU Female |
EU Male |
Non EU Total | Non EU Female |
Non EU Male |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Q300) English studies | 44135.6 | 2464.8 | 31680.1 | 2016.0 | 7974.7 | 38963.7 | 28490.9 | 10472.8 | 1193.7 | 833.8 | 359.8 | 3978.2 | 2288.0 | 1690.2 |
| (Q310) English language | 2234.5 | 66.5 | 1800.0 | 30.5 | 337.5 | 1691.5 | 1262.8 | 428.7 | 128.3 | 86.2 | 42.2 | 414.7 | 224.7 | 190.0 |
| (Q320) English literature | 8105.5 | 348.5 | 4150.7 | 129.5 | 3476.8 | 7856.8 | 6000.0 | 1856.8 | 115.0 | 92.0 | 23.0 | 133.7 | 94.0 | 39.7 |
| (Q321) English literature by period |
467.8 | 226.0 | 5.8 | 142.0 | 94.0 | 384.0 | 264.8 | 119.2 | 18.3 | 13.8 | 4.5 | 65.5 | 44.5 | 21.0 |
| (Q322) English literature by author |
339.3 | 16.0 | 0.0 | 26.0 | 297.3 | 327.3 | 279.0 | 48.3 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 |
| (Q323) English literature by topic |
176.0 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 88.0 | 68.0 | 150.0 | 138.0 | 12.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 19.0 | 16.0 | 3.0 |
| (Q330) English as a second language |
1590.2 | 80.0 | 1060.0 | 1.0 | 449.2 | 118.5 | 71.0 | 47.5 | 110.8 | 83.0 | 27.8 | 1360.8 | 749.7 | 611.2 |
| (Q340) English literature written as a second language |
174.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 174.0 | 5.5 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 41.5 | 22.5 | 19.0 | 127.0 | 42.0 | 85.0 |
| (Q390) English studies not elsewhere classified | 178.0 | 41.0 | 100.0 | 7.0 | 30.0 | 64.0 | 48.0 | 16.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 114.0 | 58.0 | 56.0 |
| (W8) Imaginative writing | 3985 | 310.0 | 1200 | 460.0 | 2015 | 3840 | 2430 | 1405 | 55 | 30 | 25 | 90 | 70 | 20 |
| 2003/04 Total | 61385.9 | 3572.8 | 39996.6 | 2900.0 | 14916.5 | 53401.4 | 38986.6 | 14409.8 | 1675.7 | 1173.3 | 502.3 | 6308.8 | 3590.8 | 2718.0 |