Entry to higher education
Published:
11 September 2024
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Data on the percentage of 18 to 20 year olds studying for a full-time first degree, by year and socio-economic background.
Summary main findings
In 2022, 32% of 18 to 20 year olds were studying in higher education (HE), up from 27% in 2014.
47% of 18 to 20 year olds from higher professional backgrounds were studying in HE. This was higher than those from lower professional (37%), higher working (34%), intermediate (29%) and lower working (21%) backgrounds.
The HE entry rate for 18 to 20 year olds from higher professional backgrounds was 2.2 times higher than those from lower working class backgrounds. In 2014, it was 3.9 times higher.
By socio-economic background
Visualisation
Percentage of 18 to 20 year olds enrolled in higher education, by socio-economic background (UK, 2022)
Data
| Socio-economic background | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|
| Higher professional | 47.1 |
| Lower professional | 36.7 |
| Intermediate | 29.2 |
| Higher working | 33.5 |
| Lower working | 21.4 |
| All backgrounds | 32.4 |
Download
For the full download file, see Download the data.
By year
Visualisation
Percentage of 18 to 20 year olds enrolled in higher education, by year (UK, 2014 to 2022)
Data
| Year | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 32.4 |
| 2021 | 33.9 |
| 2020 | 33.5 |
| 2019 | 30.1 |
| 2018 | 30.5 |
| 2017 | 30.1 |
| 2016 | 28.4 |
| 2015 | 26.6 |
| 2014 | 27.0 |
Download
For the full download file, see Download the data.
By socio-economic background (ratio over time)
Visualisation
Percentage of 18 to 20 year olds from higher professional backgrounds in HE, divided by the percentage from lower working backgrounds (UK, 2014 and 2022)
Data
| Year | Ratio |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 2.2 |
| 2014 | 3.9 |
Download
For the full download file, see Download the data.
About the data
Data source
Office for National Statistics, Labour Force Survey (LFS) 2022
Time period
- 2022 (By socio-economic background)
- 2014 to 2022 (By year)
- 2014 and 2022 (By socio-economic background – ratio over time)
Geographic area
UK
What the data measures
The data shows the percentage of 18 to 20 year olds in the UK who began studying in higher education (HE) from 2014 to 2022. HE includes degree level qualifications and foundation degrees.
Things you need to know
The data is weighted using the LFS person weights. The error bars show 95% confidence intervals.
The ratios are the percentage of 18 to 20 year olds from higher professional backgrounds in HE, divided by the percentage from lower working backgrounds.
Type of data
Survey data
Full report
Read more in State of the Nation 2024 on GOV.UK.
Download the data
Download full dataset (CSV, 4KB)
This file contains the following variables:
- Indicator code
- Indicator name
- Area type
- Area code
- Area name
- Time period
- Socio-economic background
- Age
- Sex
- Category type
- Value
- Sample size
- Lower confidence interval
- Upper confidence interval
- Standard error
- Unit
- Value note
Page history
Publication release date:
11 September 2024