Sta/Medr/01/2026: Students in Higher Education, 2024/25

Main points

Enrolments at Welsh higher education (HE) providers

• There were 143,825 enrolments at Welsh HE providers in 2024/25, 5% less than the 150,680 enrolments in 2023/24. In comparison, for HE providers across the whole of the UK the number of enrolments fell by 1% in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24.
• In 2024/25 there were 32,070 postgraduate enrolments at Welsh HE providers. This was a 19% decrease from 2023/24 when there were 39,360 postgraduate enrolments. A drop in taught postgraduate enrolments by students from outside the UK accounted for the majority of this decrease.
• In 2024/25 there were 111,755 enrolments at undergraduate level. This was a difference of less than 1% from the previous two years and 6% higher than in 2016/17.
• 48% of enrolments at Welsh HE providers were by students whose permanent address prior to starting their studies was in Wales. 37% of enrolments in 2024/25 were by students from the rest of the UK and 15% were from outside of the UK.
• The proportion of enrolments by students known to have a disability has increased year-on-year. 22% of enrolments in 2024/25 were by students known to have a disability.
• Of enrolments by students from the UK where ethnic background is known, 17% of enrolments were by students with an ethnic minority background in 2024/25. This proportion has been steadily increasing year-on-year.
• 52,685 enrolments resulted in students achieving a qualification in 2024/25. This was a 5% increase from the previous year.
• 29% of first degree qualifiers gained a first class honours degree in 2024/25. This was a two percentage point increase from 2023/24.

Enrolments by students from Wales at HE providers across the UK

• There were 103,060 enrolments by students from Wales at HE providers across the UK in 2024/25. This was similar to the 103,205 enrolments in 2023/24.
• Nearly one in three enrolments by students from Wales were at HE providers outside of Wales in 2024/25.
• Increasing proportions of enrolments by students from Wales are by those who are known to have a disability. 25% of enrolments by students from Wales in 2024/25 were by students known to have a disability.
• Increasing proportions of enrolments by students from Wales are by those with an ethnic minority background. 12% of enrolments by students from Wales in 2024/25 had an ethnic minority background.
• In 2024/25, 17% of full-time undergraduate enrolments by students from Wales were from the most deprived Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD 2019) quintile, compared with 26% from the least deprived quintile. This is explained by much higher numbers of enrolments at HE providers outside of Wales by students from less deprived areas in comparison to those from more deprived area.
• 31,090 enrolments across the UK resulted in students from Wales achieving a qualification in 2024/25. This was a 5% increase from the previous year.