Growth in students on foundation degrees is on track to meet government target

06 May 2008

The growth in the number of students studying on foundation degree programmes is on track to meet the government target of 100,000 by 2010, according to a report published today by HEFCE.

The report says that there are 72,000 students enrolled on foundation degree programmes in 2007-08 and, based on current projections for growth, the sector should be on course to meet the 100,000 figure by 2010-11.

The report noted that foundation degrees are exempt from the Government's policy of withdrawing funding for students studying for an equivalent or lower qualification which may lead to a further acceleration in the growth of student numbers, bringing the total above the 100,000 level.

Professor David Eastwood, Chief Executive of HEFCE, said:

'The report demonstrates that foundation degrees are attracting people into higher education from an even broader range of backgrounds. It is also very encouraging that we can now predict continued growth to around 100,000 students by 2010-11, on the basis of current performance.

'As the development of foundation degrees gathers momentum they are proving to be a very effective vehicle for widening access by attracting new types of students and developing a highly skilled workforce in key areas of the economy. They are also proving to be important in opening up progression routes, with less than a third having A-levels on entry and more than half of the students going on to study for an honours degree.'

Bill Rammell, Minister of State, Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, said:

'Foundation degrees continue to grow in popularity as both students and employers appreciate the innovative nature of these qualifications, which enable individuals to develop their careers whilst helping business to retain talent and increase productivity.

'Foundation degrees are exactly the sort of programmes, developed with employers, which we are looking to encourage through our recently launched High Level Skills Strategy consultation and we are well on the way towards meeting our ambition for 100,000 foundation degree students by 2010.

'We are pleased to see that students continue to be satisfied with their courses overall and are more satisfied with the organisation of courses.'

The report found that:

65 per cent of entrants in 2005-06 were aged 21 or over when they started their course and 57 per cent were female
62 per cent of the students were studying full-time
of the entrants in 2004-05 following a full-time, two-year programme, 56 per cent received a higher education award by 2005-06
for part-time students on three-year courses who entered in 2003-04, slightly lower proportions of students received a higher education qualification (51 per cent) by 2005-06
of the foundation degree qualifiers who went on to the final year of an honours degree, 76 per cent graduated in the same year.

Notes

1. A report by HEFCE, entitled 'Foundation degrees: key statistics 2001-02 to 2007-08', (HEFCE 2008/16), shows that 93 higher education institutions and 260 further education colleges were involved with foundation degree provision in 2005-06. Since their first year in 2001-02, the number of foundation degree students has grown from 4,300 to almost 72,000 in 2007-08. A total of 44 per cent are taught wholly or partly in higher education institutions and 56 per cent wholly at further education colleges.

2. The report notes that one of the significant challenges of the programme is to develop provision that will be partly financed by employers.

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