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A common languages dataset

We have aimed to gain a clearer picture of modern foreign language study in England to ensure our support for the subject is informed and based on firm evidence.

We have worked with the former DfES, HESA, Universities UK and CILT to agree a common dataset that improves our understanding of the trends in modern foreign languages. This dataset is updated annually, and now describes modern foreign language students over the six-year period from 2002-03 to 2007-08.

Note that the population considered is in line with the most recent definition of the HESA standard registration population, and writing-up and sabbatical students are excluded from the populations described. The figures which follow relate to modern foreign language students registered at UK higher education institutions (including the Open University) and report the full person equivalent numbers of students.

Key findings

Analysis of this dataset shows the following:

  • Total numbers of students taking languages at any level increased by 3.3 per cent over the period from 2002-03 to 2007-08, but this rate of increase is much less than for total student numbers, which increased by 8.2 per cent over the same period.
  • Between 2006-07 and 2007-08 the total number of students taking languages declined by 3.4 per cent. This compares to growth of 0.1 per cent in the total student population across all subject areas over this period.
  • The numbers of modern foreign language students taking first degrees increased by 2.9 per cent between 2002-03 and 2007-08. However, this increase was accompanied by a decrease in students taking other undergraduate courses which saw a decline of 1.2 per cent over the period.
  • Although the number of students taking PGCE courses in modern foreign languages decreased by 2.8 per cent, postgraduate (taught and research) courses saw an increase of 29.3 per cent over the six years.
  • Over the period examined, a decrease of 1.0 per cent was observed in the number of students studying languages full-time. In contrast to the pattern of decline found in part-time study more generally, numbers of modern foreign languages students studying part-time increased by 8.9 per cent over the period.
  • The number of students taking languages who were UK domiciled increased by 4.0 per cent from 2002-03 to 2007-08. The numbers of EU domiciled languages students increased at more than three times this rate (by 14.4 per cent), while a decline was observed in those that were domiciled elsewhere in the world (of 16.8 per cent).
  • The generic categorisations of ‘Other European languages’ and ‘Other non-European languages’ are used heavily, and there is a need to be cautious in the interpretation of figures for individual languages. However, among those languages that were specifically identified, the most commonly studied in 2007-08 (and indeed across the entire period examined) were French studies and Iberian studies. Each of these disciplines accounted for around one in five of all languages students. Although French studies observed one of the largest declines in student numbers (of 14.0 per cent), Iberian studies saw the largest growth from 2002-03 to 2007-08 (of 33.6 per cent).
  • The greatest decrease was observed among those studying Italian studies. Although student numbers were much smaller than in the disciplines above (accounting for around one in 20 of all languages students), numbers declined by 26.3 per cent from 2002-03 to 2007-08.

This dataset will be updated annually. This will enable us to monitor the trends in modern foreign languages across various levels of study and subjects of study.

Further information

Contact Alison Brunt, tel 0117 931 7166, e-mail a.brunt@hefce.ac.uk if you have any questions about the common languages dataset.

For more general enquiries relating to modern foreign languages, please contact Linda Allebon, tel 0117 931 7237, e-mail l.allebon@hefce.ac.uk.

Last updated 4 November 2010