part-time higher education students in the uk: statistical ... · part-time higher education...

Revised

9 April 2010

Part-time Higher Education Students in the UK:

Statistical Review

Geoff Mason

National Institute of Economic and Social Research, London

and Centre for Learning and Life-Chances in Knowledge Economies

and Societies (LLAKES)

Revised report to Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU)

for Birkbeck/NIESR Project on Career Decision-making and Career Development of HE Students

9 April 2010

2

Contents

1. Introduction p3

2. Trends in part-time HE enrolments p4

3. Characteristics of part-time students p9

4. Part-time students in the labour market p24

5. Employer support for part-time study p34

6. Overview: disaggregating the part-time student population p43

3

1. Introduction

The principal aim of this review is to carry out a systematic comparison of part-time

and full-time higher education (HE) students in terms of personal characteristics,

educational attainments and employment and training outcomes following completion

of their studies. In addition we explore available data on the subject choices and

career intentions of part-time students and the extent to which part-time students are

supported by their employers during their studies. Wherever possible, the analysis

distinguishes carefully between the three qualification categories on which the project

focusses: First degrees, Foundation degrees and Higher National Certificates and

Diplomas.

The review is ordered as follows: Section 2 reports on recent trends in part-time

student enrolments in HE. Section 3 draws on the HESA (Higher Education Statistics

Agency) Student Record for 2007-08 to identify some of the key differences between

part-time and full-time students that are relevant to their employment and career

prospects. In Section 4 we first examine Labour Force Survey data on the sectoral and

occupational distributions of part-time students in employment. We then report on HE

leavers’ labour market destinations and other outcomes six months after graduation

and also at 3.5 years after graduation. Section 5 assesses available evidence on the

extent and nature of employer support for individuals to study part-time in HE.

Section 6 provides an overview of the report’s main findings and illustrates the

diversity of the part-time student population by disaggregating part-time students into

distinct groups according to indicators of labour market participation and

performance.

4

2. Trends in part-time HE enrolments

We follow the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) definition of part-time HE

students, that is, they are defined residually as those who do not meet the HESA

definition of full-time. 1 Thus part-time students are those who are not normally

required to attend a higher education institution for at least 21 hours per week for 24

weeks in each academic year. This definition of part-time includes students on block

release from their places of employment (eg, for several weeks at a time) and those

studying during the evenings.

By this definition there were 825,720 part-time students in HE institutions in 2007-08,

about 36% of all students in HE institutions in the UK (Table 2.1). This total includes

students on HE courses which are franchised out by HE institutions to further

education (FE) institutions. However, as shown in Table 2.1, there are an additional

99,525 students on HE courses which are provided directly by FE institutions and are

not included in HESA data. These students in FE institutions represent 11% of all

part-time HE students in the UK, a proportion which has been falling in recent years

according to Ramsden (2009). 2 Efforts are being made to obtain more information on

part-time students in FE institutions for the final version of this report. For the present

version, we concentrate primarily on part-time students who are attached to HE

institutions and are therefore recorded in the HESA dataset.

Part-time student enrolments rose rapidly during the late 1990s and early 2000s and

this has contributed to expectations by the 2006 Leitch Review of Skills that part-time

HE would contribute substantially to future increases in the proportion of 19-65 year

olds achieving a Level 4 qualification. 3

1 The HESA definition of full-time students is those who are normally required to attend a higher education institution for at least 21 hours per week over at least 24 weeks per year of study, or who are on thick or thin sandwich courses, or are on a study-related year away from their institution. 2 Ramsden, J. (2009), Patterns of Higher Education Institutions in the UK (Ninth Report), London: Universities UK. 3 Leitch Review of Skills (2006) Prosperity for all in the global economy – world class skills HM Treasury, HMSO, London

5

Table 2.1: Higher education enrolments, all years, all domiciles, UK, 2007-08, analysed by mode of study and type of institution Full-time and sandwich enrolments: Part-time enrolments: HE institutions HE institutions Postgraduate 248380 Postgraduate 252755 First degree 1108685 First degree 198155 Other undergraduate 123320 Other undergraduate 374810

Total 1480385 Total 825720 FE institutions FE institutions Postgraduate 795 Postgraduate 4895 First degree 15590 First degree 17545 Other undergraduate 39360 Other undergraduate 77155

Total 55745 Total 99595 FE as % of total Percent FE as % of total Percent Postgraduate 0.3 Postgraduate 2 First degree 1 First degree 8 Other undergraduate 24 Other undergraduate 17

Total 4 Total 11 Source: HESA, Higher Education Statistics for the United Kingdom, 2007-08. However, more recently there have been clear signs of part-time student numbers

leveling off and even, in 2007-08, starting to decline. This is shown by Figure 2.1

which takes account of discontinuities in HESA’s definition of the HE student

population. Prior to 2001-02 the ‘standard registration population’ was defined as all

students enrolled at 1 December of each academic year. Since that year the numbers

include HE students enrolled at any time during the academic year. From 2007-08 the

standard registration population was redefined again to exclude students on sabbatical

and those writing up theses, and for this reason Figure 2.1 shows a separate time-

series of enrolment numbers on the new definition backdated to 2003-04.

In general, Figure 2.1 shows that most of the growth in part-time student numbers

prior to 2004-05 took place at undergraduate level, rather than at postgraduate level.

Since that year part-time undergraduate numbers have, first, leveled off and then in

2007-08 experienced a decline of just over 3% on the previous year. Postgraduate

enrolments rose slightly between 2004-05 but in 2007-08 they too showed a decline

(of just under 3%) for the first time since 1997. If we focus solely on UK-domiciled

students, their numbers have tended to decline as a proportion of total part-time

enrolments since the late 1990s (Figure 2.2) and the leveling-off in numbers in recent

6

years and the actual decline in 2007-08 has been more severe for UK-domiciled part-

time students than for part-timers as a whole (Figure 2.3).

Figure 2.1: Part-time higher education enrolments, all years, all domiciles, UK, 1994-95 to 2007-08

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007

Par

t-tim

e H

E e

nrol

men

ts, a

ll ye

ars,

all

dom

icile

s (th

ousa

nds)

Undergraduates - 1stDecember studentpopulationUndergraduates - StandardRegistration Population - 1

Undergraduates - StandardRegistration Population - 2

Postgraduates - 1stDecember studentpopulationPostgraduates - StandardRegistration Population - 1

Postgraduates - StandardRegistration Population - 2

Sources: Derived from Higher Education Student Enrolments and Qualifications Obtained at Higher Education Institutions in the United Kingdom, HESA Statistical First Releases, Nos. 29 (April 1999, Table 1), 56 (April 2002, Table 1), 107 (January 2007, Table 1), 117 (January 2008, Table 1) and 130 (January 2009, Table 1). Notes: The main discontinuities in this time series arise from changes in the HESA definition of the student population: “1st December student population” refers to students enrolled on higher education courses on that date in each academic year. “Standard Registration Population – 1” refers to all students enrolled on higher education courses at any time during the academic year. “Standard Registration Population – 2” also refers to all students enrolled on higher education courses at any time during the academic year but excludes students on sabbatical and students writing up theses. Note that, in the case of undergraduates, data based on Standard Registration Population – 1 largely overlap with data based on Standard Registration Population – 2. Other minor discontinuities may arise through variations in reporting practices over time by a small number of higher education institutions. It is not possible to adjust for such discrepancies and therefore the time series shown here need to be interpreted with caution; see HESA Statistical First Releases for further details.

7

Figure 2.2: UK-domiciled part-time higher education enrolments as a percentage of all part-time enrolments, all years, 1994-95 to 2007-08

80

82

84

86

88

90

92

94

96

98

100

1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007

UK-

dom

icile

d pa

rt-tim

e en

rolm

ents

as

% o

f all

part-

time

enro

lmen

ts

Undergraduates - 1st Decemberstudent populationUndergraduates - StandardRegistration Population - 1Undergraduates - StandardRegistration Population - 2Postgraduates - 1st Decemberstudent populationPostgraduates - StandardRegistration Population - 1Postgraduates - StandardRegistration Population - 2

Sources and notes: See Figure 2.1 Figure 2.3: UK-domiciled part-time higher education enrolments, all years, 1994-95 to 2007-08

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007

Part-

time

HE

enr

olm

ents

, UK-

dom

icile

d (th

ousa

nds)

Undergraduates - 1st Decemberstudent populationUndergraduates - StandardRegistration Population - 1Undergraduates - StandardRegistration Population - 2Postgraduates - 1st Decemberstudent populationPostgraduates - StandardRegistration Population - 1Postgraduates - StandardRegistration Population - 2

Sources and notes: See Figure 2.1 The HESA figures for 2007-08 are provisional and may therefore be revised.

Nonetheless, the apparent decline in part-time enrolments over this 12 month period

contrasts with the absence of any decline in full-time UK-domiciled student

8

enrolments between 2006-07 and 2007-08. Indeed, as shown in Figure 2.4, UK-

domiciled part-time enrolments have fallen as a proportion of total UK-domiciled

student numbers since 2002 at undergraduate level and in most years since 2002 at

postgraduate level. Hence there are grounds for doubting whether the part-time HE

route will contribute substantially to growth in high-level skills and knowledge in

future years. Part-time student numbers in future may also be reduced by the

government’s decision to phase out funding from 2008-09 for the majority of students

in England and Northern Ireland who are studying for qualifications that are

equivalent to or lower than qualifications than they already hold (ELQs). This is

discussed further below in the context of the entry qualifications held by part-time

students.

Figure 2.4: UK-domiciled part-time HE enrolments as a proportion of total UK-domiciled HE enrolments, all years, 1994-95 to 2007-08

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007

Par

t-tim

e en

rolm

ents

as

% o

f tot

al H

E en

rolm

ents

, U

K-d

omic

iled

Postgraduates - 1st Decemberstudent populationPostgraduates - StandardRegistration Population - 1Postgraduates - StandardRegistration Population - 2Undergraduates - 1st Decemberstudent populationUndergraduates - StandardRegistration Population - 1Undergraduates - StandardRegistration Population - 2

Sources and notes: See Figure 2.1

9

3. Characteristics of part-time students

3.1 Mode of study, domicile and qualification aim

Looking at 2007-08 student numbers in more detail, Table 3.1 shows that UK-

domiciled students accounted for 92% of all part-timers compared to 81% of all full-

time students. Just over three-quarters of all part-time students are based in England.

For the remainder of this report we focus on UK-domiciled students alone, with

particular attention to students aiming for First degrees, Foundation degrees or Higher

National Certificates and Diplomas. While part-timers represent only 39% of all UK-

domiciled students in HE institutions, they actually constitute around half of

Foundation degree and Higher National students in HE institutions (Table 3.2). By

contrast, part-time First degree students are greatly outnumbered by full-timers;

nonetheless, the absolute numbers of part-time First degree students are substantially

larger than those enrolled for part-time Foundation degrees or Higher National

awards.

Table 3.1: HE enrolments in the UK, 2007-08, all years, analysed by mode of study and country of domicile

Breakdown of student numbers:

Full-time Part-time Total % full-time

% part-time % total

England 989256 629513 1618769 67 76 70 Scotland 107992 67722 175714 7 8 8 Wales 57024 45713 102737 4 6 4 Northern Ireland 44004 18356 62360 3 2 3 Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man 3697 1037 4734 0.2 0.1 0.2 Other European Union 86715 25434 112149 6 3 5 Non-European Union 191697 37945 229642 13 5 10

Total 1480385 825720 2306105 100 100 100 Source: HESA Student Record, 2007-08 Notes: Percentage totals may not sum to 100 due to rounding. This applies to all tables in this report. See main text in Section 2 for definitions of full-time and part-time categories.

10

Table 3.2: UK-domiciled HE students, 2007-08, analysed by mode of study and qualification aim

Breakdown of student numbers:

Full-time student

numbers

Part-time student

numbers

Part-time as % of total

students % full-time

% part-time

% total

Postgraduate research 33051 20406 38 3 3 3 Postgraduate taught 82283 197914 71 7 26 14 First degrees 974720 188548 16 81 25 59 Foundation degrees 30645 28060 48 3 4 3 Higher National Certificate/Diploma 14609 15827 52 1 2 2 Other undergraduate qualifications (a) 66665 311585 82 6 41 19

Total 1201973 762340 39 100 100 100 Source: HESA Student Record, 2007-08 Note: (a) Mainly Certificates and Diplomas of Higher Education, Undergraduate diplomas and certificates, Professional qualifications at undergraduate level and Institutional undergraduate credits.

3.2 Gender, age, ethnicity and regional distribution

As shown in Table 3.3, some 63% of part-time students are female compared to 56%

of full-timers. Another well known difference is that part-time students are generally

older, with 39% aged 40 years or more while 28% are aged between 30-39 years. By

contrast, 84% of full-time students are aged below 26. In terms of ethnicity, however,

there are few differences between part-timers and full-timers.

Among part-time students there are above-average shares of women aiming for

Foundation degrees and ‘Other undergraduate’ qualifications while male part-timers

are over-represented in the postgraduate research and Higher National categories

(Table 3.4). In terms of age-distribution, part-time students aged between 30-49

predominate in a wide range of courses at both postgraduate and undergraduate levels

(Table 3.5). The only exception to this is on Higher National courses where 51% of

part-time students are aged below 26. Part-time Higher National courses also stand

out for having a below-average share of ethnic minority students (Table 3.6). In terms

of regional distribution, the South East is recorded as having over half of part-time

11

First degree students which partly reflects the large numbers enrolled at the Open

University (see below). The North West and West Midlands stand out for having

disproportionately large shares of part-time Foundation degree students while Wales

and Scotland have larger shares of part-time Higher National students than they do of

other types of part-time student (Table 3.7).

Table 3.3: UK-domiciled students, 2007-08, analysed by mode of study, gender, age group and ethnic background

Full-time

Part-time

% of total Gender % female 56 63 % male 44 37 Total 100 100 Age group Under 18 1 1 18-21 67 6 22-25 16 12 26-29 5 13 30-39 6 28 40-49 3 24 50-59 1 10 60-plus 0.1 5 Age unknown 0.01 0.4 Total 100 100 Ethnic background White 78 79

Black or Black British – Caribbean 1 2

Black or Black British – African 4 3 Other Black background 0.3 0.4 Asian or Asian British – Indian 4 2 Asian or Asian British – Pakistani 2 1

Asian or Asian British – Bangladeshi 1 0.4

Chinese 1 0.5 Other Asian background 1 1 Other (including mixed) 4 2 Not known or information refused 3 9 Total 100 100 n = 1201973 762340

Source: HESA Student Record, 2007-08

12

Table 3.4: Qualification aims of UK-domiciled students, 2007-08, analysed by mode of study and gender

Post-graduate research

Post-graduate

taught First

degrees

Found-ation

degrees

Higher National

Certificates/Diplomas

Other under-

graduate qualif-

ications Total Full-time Female 15478 48462 537747 16254 5516 54445 677902 Male 17573 33821 436955 14391 9093 12213 524046 Total (a) 33051 82283 974702 30645 14609 66658 1201948 Female as % of total 47 59 55 53 38 82 56 Part-time Female 10427 119639 114084 18871 4833 208835 476689 Male 9979 78237 74460 9187 10990 102697 285550 Total (b) 20406 197876 188544 28058 15823 311532 762239 Female as % of total 51 60 61 67 31 67 63

Source: HESA Student Record, 2007-08 Notes: (a) Excludes 25 persons of indeterminate gender (b) Excludes 101 persons of indeterminate gender

13

Table 3.5: Qualification aims of UK-domiciled students, 2007-08, analysed by mode of study and age-group


Post-graduate

taught First

degrees

Found-ation

degrees

Higher National

Certificates/Diplomas

Other under-

graduate qualif-

ications Total % of students Full-time Under 18 0 0 1 0.4 3 1 0.7 18-21 3 14 77 52 66 30 67.3 22-25 48 46 13 14 15 21 16.4 26-29 22 16 3 8 6 12 5.4 30-39 17 15 4 13 7 21 6.3 40-49 7 7 2 10 3 12 3.2 50-59 2 2 0.4 2 1 2 0.6 60-plus 1 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.1 Age unknown 0.1 0.1 0.004 0.1 0.1 0.03 0.01

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

n= 33051 82283 974720 30645 14609 66665 1201973

Part-time Under 18 0 0 0.1 0.1 1 2 1 18-21 0.2 1 10 12 30 5 6 22-25 6 12 15 16 20 10 12 26-29 12 16 13 13 13 11 13 30-39 31 33 27 28 19 26 28 40-49 28 26 22 23 13 24 24 50-59 17 10 8 6 3 12 10 60-plus 5 1 4 1 1 9 5 Age unknown 0.1 0.4 0 0.2 0.2 1 0.4

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

n= 20406 197914 188548 28060 15827 311585 762340 Source: HESA Student Record, 2007-08

14

Table 3.6: Qualification aims of UK-domiciled students, 2007-08, analysed by mode of study and ethnic background


Post-graduate

taught First

degrees

Found-ation

degrees

Higher National Certif-icates/

Diplomas

Other under-

graduate qualif-

ications Total % of students Full-time White 80 76 79 78 70 77 78 Black or Black British – Caribbean 0.3 1 1 2 2 2 1 Black or Black British – African 1 4 3 3 5 9 4 Other Black background 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.5 1 1 0.3 Asian or Asian British – Indian 2 4 4 2 6 1 4 Asian or Asian British – Pakistani 1 2 3 2 4 1 2 Asian or Asian British – Bangladeshi 0.3 1 1 1 2 0.4 1 Chinese 2 2 1 1 1 0.4 1 Other Asian background 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 Other (incl. mixed) 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 Not known or stated 6 4 2 5 4 3 3

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 n= 33051 82283 974720 30645 14609 66665 1201973

Part-time White 79 78 80 82 87 79 79 Black or Black British – Caribbean 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 Black or Black British – African 2 3 4 2 2 3 3 Other Black background 0.3 0.3 1 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4 Asian or Asian British – Indian 3 3 2 1 1 2 2 Asian or Asian British – Pakistani 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Asian or Asian British – Bangladeshi 0.2 0.4 1 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.4 Chinese 1 1 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.5 Other Asian background 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Other (incl. mixed) 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 Not known or stated 10 9 6 8 4 10 9

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 n= 20406 197914 188548 28060 15827 311585 762340


15

Table 3.7: Qualification aims of UK-domiciled students, 2007-08, analysed by mode of study and region


Post-graduate

taught First

degrees

Found-ation

degrees


Diplomas

Other under-

graduate qualif-

ications Total % of students Full-time North East 4 5 5 3 1 5 5 North West 10 11 12 12 10 13 12 Yorkshire and the Humber 8 9 10 7 10 8 10 East Midlands 6 6 8 7 9 8 8 West Midlands 5 6 8 7 11 10 8 East 9 4 5 9 3 9 5 London 18 23 14 22 15 19 15 South East 15 10 11 8 9 10 11 South West 7 7 8 22 2 6 8 Wales 5 5 6 3 13 1 5 Scotland 11 10 10 0 17 10 10 Northern Ireland 3 2 3 0 0 1 3

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

n = 33051 82283 974720 30645 14609 66665 1201973 Part-time North East 5 4 3 9 8 6 5 North West 9 12 6 11 10 9 9 Yorkshire and the Humber 8 7 4 7 6 6 6 East Midlands 6 7 3 6 4 3 4 West Midlands 7 9 5 12 9 8 8 East 7 4 2 8 9 5 4 London 24 19 12 7 11 13 14 South East 13 16 52 29 6 30 31 South West 7 7 4 7 4 4 5 Wales 5 4 2 3 17 8 5 Scotland 8 10 5 0 16 7 7 Northern Ireland 2 2 2 0 0 2 2

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

N = 20406 197914 188548 28060 15827 311585 762340 Source: HESA Student Record, 2007-08

16

3.3 Entry qualifications and subject of study Some marked differences between part-timers and full-timers emerge with regard to

the highest qualifications gained prior to entry to HE courses. At postgraduate level a

First degree is a common pre-entry qualification for both modes of study but it is

much less prevalent among part-timers than full-timers (Table 3.8). At undergraduate

level some 78% of full-time First degree students enter with A levels or equivalent

awards as their highest qualification whereas the same is true of only 26% of part-

time First degree students. About 14% of part-time entrants to First degree courses

already hold First degree-level or postgraduate qualifications and another 32% already

hold HE qualifications below First degree level. At the same time 19% of part-time

entrants to First degree courses only hold qualifications below A level or vocational

qualifications at NVQ Level 3 or lower. There is therefore a considerable polarization

among part-time First degree students between those who are already well qualified at

HE level and those who are embarking upon HE studies for the first time. As might be

expected, part-time entrants to other undergraduate courses include larger shares of

people without prior HE qualifications – 61% in the case of Foundation degree

courses and 68% of part-time entrants to Higher National courses.

Clearly, part-time First degree students are one of the groups most likely to be

affected by the government’s decision to phase out funding from 2008-09 for the

majority of students in England and Northern Ireland who are studying for

qualifications that are equivalent to or lower than qualifications than they already hold

(ELQs). Furthermore, HESA data suggest that about 15% of part-time Higher

National students and 9% of part-time Foundation degree students in 2007-08 already

possessed qualifications equivalent to or higher than their current course aims, so

future enrolments for these qualifications will be affected by the ELQ policy as well

(Table 3.8).

17

Table 3.8: Qualification aims of UK-domiciled students, 2007-08, analysed by mode of study and entry qualifications


Post-graduate

taught First

degrees

Found-ation

degrees


Diplomas

Other under-

graduate qualif-

ications Total % of students

Full-time Postgraduate qualifications 39 11 0 1 0 2 2 First degree or equivalent 54 77 2 3 1 14 9 Foundation degree 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Higher National Certificate/Diploma 0 0 3 4 6 3 3 Other HE qualifications below degree level 1 2 3 6 3 5 3 A levels or equivalent 2 3 78 44 52 30 67 Other qualifications below HE level 1 2 12 35 30 35 13 No formal qualifications 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Not known 3 4 1 6 6 10 2

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 n = 33051 82283 974720 30645 14609 66665 1201973

Part-time Postgraduate qualifications 53 26 4 2 2 9 13 First degree or equivalent 35 50 10 7 5 20 25 Foundation degree 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Higher National Certificate/Diploma 0 2 13 7 8 4 6 Other HE qualifications below degree level 2 8 18 13 5 18 15 A levels or equivalent 1 2 26 26 24 11 13 Other qualifications below HE level 1 4 19 33 43 18 15 No formal qualifications 0 0 2 2 1 3 2 Not known 7 8 6 10 12 16 11

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 n = 20406 197914 188548 28060 15827 311585 762340


18

At First degree level some of the biggest differences in subject choice between part-

timers and full-timers are the 14% of part-time students qualifying in subjects allied to

medicine (compared to 8% of full-timers) and the smaller share of part-timers

qualifying in creative arts and design (2% compared to 10% of full-time students)

(Table 3.9). At the same time some 22% of part-time First degree students are

classified to combined and inter-disciplinary courses compared to 13% of full-timers.

Business and administrative studies account for similar proportions (8-10%) of both

part-time and full-time First degree students. At Foundation degree level the most

common subjects for part-time students are education (33%) and business studies

(20%) while for full-time students they are creative arts and design (20%) and

education (12%). At Higher National level part-time students are heavily concentrated

in engineering and technology (35%) and architecture, building and planning (25%)

while the most common subject among full-time Higher National students is business

and administrative studies (31%).

19

Table 3.9: Qualification aims of UK-domiciled students, 2007-08, analysed by mode of study and subject area

Postgraduate

research Postgraduate

taught First

degrees Foundation

degrees

Higher National

Certificates / Diplomas

Other undergraduate qualifications Total

% of students Full-time: Medicine and dentistry 9 2 4 0 0 1 4 Subjects allied to medicine 5 6 8 9 2 79 12 Biological sciences 17 6 9 6 5 1 8 Veterinary science, agriculture and related subjects 1 1 1 7 4 0 1 Physical sciences 17 3 4 2 2 0 4 Mathematical and computing sciences 7 3 6 7 13 1 5 Engineering and technology 11 3 5 7 13 1 5 Architecture, building & planning 1 3 2 2 7 2 2 Social studies 8 10 8 9 5 2 8 Law 1 8 4 0 1 1 4 Business & administrative studies 2 9 10 11 31 1 10 Mass communications & documentation 1 3 3 3 2 0 2 Languages 6 3 5 0 0 0 5 Historical & philosophical studies 7 3 4 0 0 0 4 Creative arts & design 3 5 10 20 14 2 10 Education 2 30 3 12 1 7 6 Combinations and interdisciplinary courses 3 2 13 4 1 1 11

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

n = 33051 82283 974720 30645 14609 66665 1201973

20

Table 3.9 (continued): Qualification aims of UK-domiciled students, 2007-08, analysed by mode of study and subject area

Postgraduate

research Postgraduate

taught First

degrees Foundation

degrees

Higher National

Certificates / Diplomas

Other undergraduate qualifications Total

Part-time: Medicine and dentistry 12 3 0 0 0 0 1 Subjects allied to medicine 9 15 14 9 2 20 16 Biological sciences 9 3 8 1 1 1 3 Veterinary science, agriculture and related subjects 1 0 0 2 5 1 1 Physical sciences 3 1 3 0 2 1 2 Mathematical and computing sciences 4 3 5 4 6 3 4 Engineering and technology 5 4 4 5 35 1 4 Architecture, building & planning 1 4 4 4 25 1 3 Social studies 8 6 9 12 3 8 8 Law 2 3 4 2 1 1 2 Business & administrative studies 6 20 8 20 16 8 12 Mass communications & documentation 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 Languages 5 1 5 0 0 8 5 Historical & philosophical studies 10 2 6 2 0 4 4 Creative arts & design 5 2 2 3 3 2 2 Education 16 28 5 33 1 12 15 Combinations and interdisciplinary courses 2 3 22 2 1 29 18

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

n = 20406 197914 188548 28060 15827 311585 762340 Source: HESA Student Record, 2007-08

3.4 Location and intensity of study

Just over 30% of part-time students are engaged in distance learning, with the proportion

varying widely from 6% of part-time Higher National students to just over half of all

part-time First degree students (Table 3.10). By contrast, less than 1% of full-time

students are following distance learning courses. Not surprisingly, the Open University

accounts for the great majority of part-time distance learners and indeed for almost a

quarter of all part-time students (Table 3.11). After the Open University, five of the next

seven largest recruiters of part-time students are post-1992 universities such as Teesside,

West of England and Plymouth. At the same time two pre-1992 universities – Birkbeck

College and Warwick – are second and fifth, respectively, in terms of part-time student

numbers. In spite of this degree of specialization in part-time course provision by some

large universities, around two thirds of all part-time students are scattered between 150-

plus smaller HE institutions.

There is also considerable diversity between part-time students in the extent to which

their study loads compare with those of full-time students. Table 3.12 shows that about

three quarters of part-time Foundation degree and Higher National students are classified

as undertaking half or more of the study load of a full-time equivalent (FTE) student. The

same is true of just over half of part-time First degree students but, at the other end of the

spectrum, about one in five part-time First degree students are classified as having less

than 25% of a FTE study load. This variation may reflect substantial differences between

part-time students in their commitments to paid work outside university, as we now go on

to discuss.

22

Table 3.10: UK-domiciled HE students, 2007-08, analysed by mode of study and location of study


Post-graduate

taught First

degrees

Found-ation

degrees


Diplomas

Other under-

graduate qualif-

ications Total % of students Full-time At returning and/or franchised institution for whole year 99.8 99.3 96.5 98.9 97.5 97.8 96.9 Distance learning – UK-based 0.01 0.5 0.01 0.01 0 0.15 0.05 On industrial placement 0.00 0.1 2.4 1.0 2.5 2.0 2.1 On study abroad 0.2 0.1 1.1 0.01 0.03 0.04 0.9

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

n = 33051 82283 974720 30645 14609 66665 1201973


Post-graduate

taught First

degrees

Found-ation

degrees


Diplomas

Other under-

graduate qualif-

ications Total % of students Part-time At returning and/or franchised institution for whole year 96.5 78.8 48.8 76.2 94.3 71.5 69.1 Distance learning - Open University 2.5 7.2 47.7 14.0 0 23.1 23.7 Distance learning - Other universities 1.0 14.0 3.3 9.7 5.7 5.3 7.1 Other study locations 0.02 0.01 0.1 0.02 0.02 0.1 0.1

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

n = 20406 197914 188548 28060 15827 311585 762340


23

Table 3.11: Distribution of UK-domiciled part-time students across UK higher education institutions, 2007-08 A. Distribution of part-time student headcounts between institutions

Headcounts of PT students

Number of institutions

Proportion of total PT students

20000+ 1 24 10000-19999 7 11 5000-9999 40 36 1000-4999 72 27 <1000 44 2

Total 164 100 B. Part-time student headcounts in eight largest institutions Open University 181082 Birkbeck College 15469 University of Teesside 15084 Edge Hill University 12871 University of Warwick 11620 University of the West of England, Bristol 10954 University of Plymouth 10206 London Metropolitan University 10173

Source: HESA Student Record, 2007-08 Table 3.12: Part-time higher education students, UK-domiciled, analysed by qualification aim and distribution of FTE ratios, 2007-08

Percent of FTE student load:

Under 25%

25-49%

50-74%

75% or more Total n =

% of students in each qualification category Qualification aim: Postgraduate research 9 13 69 9 100 20406 Postgraduate taught 30 36 31 3 100 197914 First degrees 19 29 41 11 100 188548 Foundation degrees 10 14 52 24 100 28060 Higher National Certificates/Diplomas 9 15 67 9 100 15827 Other undergraduate qualifications 55 24 19 2 100 311585

Total 36 28 31 6 100 762340


24

4. Part-time students in the labour market

One useful source of information on part-time HE students’ current employment status is

the Labour Force Survey (LFS) which surveys some 60,000 households every quarter on

topics such as labour market participation and recent and ongoing involvement in

education and training. In 2008 estimates derived from the LFS suggest that there were

about 465,000 persons who classified themselves as studying part-time in universities,

colleges or the Open University and who reported studying towards recognised higher

education qualifications. This is a marked undercount compared to the total number of

part-time HE students recorded by HESA, in part because it relies on individuals

classifying themselves as studying part-time in higher education without regard to the

formal definition of part-time status applied by HESA. Nonetheless, because of the

comprehensive nature of the LFS, we can learn much about the distribution of part-time

HE students in the economy, even though we have reason to believe that the total number

of part-time students is under-estimated in the LFS.

As shown in Table 4.1, an estimated 70% of part-time HE students were employed full-

time in 2008 while another 16% were employed part-time. This leaves 14% who were

unemployed or not available for employment for various reasons. These estimates are

very close to those derived from the survey of part-time HE students carried out for this

project which found 72% employed full-time, 17% employed part-time and 11% non-

employed (Mason and Hopkin, 2009). 4 Among part-time Higher National students, the

LFS estimates suggest that 79% were in full-time employment, compared to 66% of part-

time First degree and Foundation degree students.

4 Mason, G. and Hopkin, R. (2009), Employer perspectives on part-time students in UK higher education, Report for HECSU/BIS Project on Career Decision-making and Career Development of HE Students, London: National Institute of Economic and Social Research.

25

Table 4.1: Economic activity of part-time HE students (a), UK, 2008, analysed by qualification aim (population-weighted)

Higher

degrees First

degrees

Found-ation

degrees

Higher National

Certificates/ Diplomas

Other under-

graduate qualifi-ications

Total part-time

HE students

% of part-time HE students Employed full-time 76 66 66 79 69 70 Employed part-time 16 16 19 8 18 16 Non-employed 7 18 15 12 13 14

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100

Grossed-up population estimate = 144201 179189 28839 24100 88954 465283

Unweighted n = 1067 1281 216 164 643 3371 Source: Labour Force Survey 2008 (Four-quarter average) Notes: (a) Refers to all persons who are in employment, who classify themselves as studying part-time in universities or colleges or the Open University, and who are recorded as studying towards one of the following higher education qualifications: Higher degrees including PGCE; First degrees; Foundation degrees; Other degrees, eg, graduate member of a professional institute or chartered accountant; Diploma in Higher Education; Higher National Certificates or Diplomas; Teaching qualifications (excluding PGCE); Nursing or other medical qualifications not classified elsewhere; and Other higher education qualifications below degree level.

One striking characteristic of part-time HE students in employment is that, taken

together, as many as 57% of them are working in the public sector (ie, in public

administration, education, health or social work) (Table 4.2, Column 6). In the case of

part-time Foundation degree students, the proportion working in the public sector rises to

71% while for Higher National students it falls to 22% -- in large part because of the

relatively high share of part-time Higher National students working in manufacturing and

construction (45%). Overall, part-time HE students represent approximately 2.3-3.0% of

total employment in public service sectors compared to only 1.4% of employment in the

economy as a whole (Table 4.3, Column 6).

26

Table 4.2: Sectoral distribution of part-time HE students in employment (a), UK, 2008, analysed by qualification aim (population-weighted)

Higher

degrees First

degrees

Found-ation

degrees

Higher National


Other under-


Total part-

time HE students

% of part-time HE students Manufacturing 5 7 4 11 5 6 Construction 3 6 4 33 4 6 Other production industries (b) 1 0 1 3 3 1 Wholesale and retail 3 7 3 12 7 6 Hotels and restaurants 1 3 5 2 2 2 Transport, storage and communications 2 3 6 3 4 3 Financial services 3 3 1 1 4 3 Business services 10 16 4 11 8 12 Other private services (c) 5 4 4 2 4 4 Public administration 13 10 24 10 9 12 Education 27 13 23 2 22 19 Health and social work 27 27 24 10 28 26

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100

Grossed-up population estimate = 133,346 146,606 24,498 21,100 76,980 402,530

Unweighted n = 993 1031 181 143 559 2907 Source: Labour Force Survey 2008 (Four-quarter average) Notes: (a) See Notes to Table 4.1 (b) Agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, electricity, gas and water. (c) Community, social and personal services, plus private households with employed persons.

27

Table 4.3: Part-time HE students in employment (a) per 1000 persons in employment, UK, 2008, analysed by sector and qualification aim (population-weighted)

Higher

degrees First

degrees

Found-ation

degrees

Higher National


Other under-graduate qualifi-ications

Total part-time

HE students

Part-time HE students per 1000 employees Manufacturing 2.0 3.0 0.3 0.7 1.2 7.1 Construction 1.5 3.6 0.4 2.9 1.2 9.7 Other production industries (b) 2.0 0.6 0.2 0.8 3.3 6.9 Wholesale and retail 1.0 2.3 0.2 0.6 1.3 5.3 Hotels and restaurants 1.4 3.4 0.9 0.3 1.2 7.1 Transport, storage and communications 1.5 2.5 0.7 0.3 1.6 6.6 Financial services 2.7 3.8 0.2 0.2 2.4 9.3 Business services 3.9 6.8 0.3 0.7 1.7 13.3 Other private services (c) 3.9 3.2 0.5 0.3 1.5 9.5 Public administration 8.3 7.4 2.8 1.0 3.5 23.0 Education 13.5 7.5 2.1 0.2 6.5 29.7 Health and social work 10.0 10.9 1.7 0.6 6.0 29.1 Total 4.6 5.1 0.8 0.7 2.7 13.9

Source: Labour Force Survey 2008 (Four-quarter average) Notes: (a) See Notes to Table 4.1 (b) Agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, electricity, gas and water. (c) Community, social and personal services, plus private households with employed persons.

28

Our survey of part-time HE students found that a large majority of them were motivated

by career ambitions in choosing to embark on part-time study, for example, seeking to

develop new or existing skills that would help them get on in their present job or career

or to enter a different profession or occupation (Callender, Hopkin and Wilkinson,

2009).5 LFS-based estimates suggest that about a third of part-time First degree students

and a quarter of part-time Foundation degree students are already in managerial or

professional occupations as are 18% of part-time Higher National students (Table 4.4).

Sizeable proportions of part-time students are also in associate professional and technical

occupations which typically provide a pathway to high-status occupations. Some 39% of

part-time Higher National students, 30% of First degree students and 24% of Foundation

degree students are in this category. That still leaves 30% of all part-time HE students

who are presently in occupations where HE qualifications are not typically required (for

example, administrative, personal service, sales and manual occupations). Our student

survey data suggest that many of these individuals have ambitions to move into higher

status occupations following graduation from their HE courses.

Available evidence on what happens to part-time HE students in terms of career progress

following completion of their studies has recently been improved by a longitudinal

survey of the 2004-05 cohort of HE leavers who were first interviewed six months after

graduation and then three years later in 2008 (HESA, 2009). 6 Table 4.5 presents a direct

comparison of part-time and full-time graduates’ labour market status at these two points

in time. Focussing on First degree graduates, we see that six months after graduation,

some 83% of former part-timers were in paid work or were combining paid work with

further study (Table 4.5, Part C). The equivalent proportion for former full-time students

was 71% (Part A). Part-time graduates were less than half as likely as full-time to be

engaging in further study without paid work or to be unemployed. These contrasts are

hardly surprising since part-time students are typically older and better established in the

labour market than full-timers. Three years later many of the differences seem to have

5 Callender, C., Hopkin, R. and Wilkinson, D. (2009), Career Decision-Making and Career Development of Part-Time Higher Education students: Report to the Higher Education Careers Services Unit. 6 HESA (2009), Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions Longitudinal Survey of the 2004-05 Cohort: Key Findings Report, Cheltenham: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

29

diminished with 87-88% of both part-time and full-time First degree graduates in paid

work or combining paid work with further study (Parts B and D). In addition, the average

rate of unemployment is much the same for part-time and full-time graduates.

However, other findings from this longitudinal survey show that part-time graduates have

typically experienced much more stability in terms of labour market status during this

time (Table 4.6) and they are also much less likely to have been employed at some stage

in ‘non-graduate’ occupations as defined by Elias and Purcell (2004), that is, occupations

which neither typically require university degrees nor offer scope for use of degree-level

skills and knowledge (Table 4.7). 7 Examples of non-graduate occupations by this

definition include many different types of clerical, personal service, sales, skilled trade,

labouring and related occupations.

In addition to the advantages derived from greater labour market experience, such as the

opportunities to acquire work-related skills and to avoid employment in non-graduate

occupations, part-time HE graduates have also often benefited from direct support in their

studies by their employers (for example, reimbursement of tuition fees). In the

penultimate section of this review, we assess available evidence on the extent and nature

of employer support of this kind.

7 Elias, P., and Purcell, K. (2004), SOC (HE): A classification of occupations for studying the graduate labour market. Research paper No 6. March 2004, Employment Studies Research Unit, University of West of England and Warwick Institute of Employment Research.

30

Table 4.4 Occupational distribution of part-time HE students in employment (a), UK, 2008, analysed by qualification aim (population-weighted)

Higher

degrees First

degrees

Found-ation

degrees

Higher National


Other under-


Total part-time HE students

% of part-time HE students Managers 20 14 16 4 12 15 Professional occupations 43 19 9 14 23 27 Associate professional and technical occupations 24 30 24 39 23 27 Administrative and secretarial occupations 6 12 11 16 17 11 Skilled trades 1 4 4 10 3 3 Personal service occupations 3 11 28 8 15 10 Sales and customer service occupations 1 3 2 6 2 2 Process, plant and machine operators 0 1 1 3 1 1 Elementary occupations 1 5 6 1 4 3

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100

Grossed-up population estimate 133645 146606 24498 21100 77143 402991

Unweighted n = 993 1031 181 143 559 2907 Source: Labour Force Survey 2008 (Four-quarter average) Notes: (a) See Table 4.1, Note (a)

31

Table 4.5: Destinations of HE students six months after graduation and 3.5 years after graduation, 2004-05 cohort, analysed by mode of study and qualification level

2004-05 leavers:

Full-time paid work

only (a)

Part-time paid work only

Work and

further study

Further study only

Assumed to be

unemp-loyed

Not available

for employ-

ment Other

(b) Total n = % of leavers in each qualification category Full-time: A. Activity on 15 April 2005/ 16 January 2006 Postgraduate 72 6 8 6 5 2 2 100 6385 First Degree 55 8 8 16 6 5 2 100 24985 Other undergraduate 48 7 15 24 3 1 1 100 2345 B. Activity on 24 November 2008 Postgraduate 81 5 5 4 2 2 1 100 6385 First Degree 77 4 7 7 3 1 1 100 24985 Other undergraduate 72 10 8 4 3 2 1 100 2345 Part-time: C. Activity on 15 April 2005/ 16 January 2006 Postgraduate 69 7 16 3 2 2 1 100 3830 First Degree 56 10 17 6 3 6 2 100 2625 Other undergraduate 50 9 29 7 2 2 2 100 1230 D. Activity on 24 November 2008 Postgraduate 76 10 7 2 2 3 2 100 3835 First Degree 65 13 9 4 2 6 2 100 2620 Other undergraduate 70 12 8 3 4 3 1 100 1230

Source: Derived from Tables 1.1 and 1.4, Statistical Annex, HESA (2009), Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Institutions Longitudinal Survey of the 2004-05 Cohort: Key Findings Report, available from www.hesa.ac.uk/publications/dlhe_longitudinal Notes: (a) Includes self-employed (b) Includes voluntary/unpaid work, those classified as 'employed mode unknown' and other activities not specified.

32

Table 4.6: HE leavers in 2004-05: number of post-graduation activities (a) during first 3.5 years after graduation, analysed by mode of study and qualification level

Number of activities (a)

One Two Three Four Five or more Total

Base (weighted)

% of students in each qualification category Postgraduate

Full-time 33 35 17 8 7 100 6385 Part-time 47 34 12 5 2 100 3835

First degree


Other undergraduate


Source: Derived from Table 4.5, Statistical Annex, HESA (2009).

Notes: (a) Refers to number of movements between the following labour market categories: paid full-time work, paid part-time work, voluntary or unpaid work, work combined with further study, further study only, unemployment, not available for employment, and other activities.

33

Table 4.7: HE leavers in 2004-05 with at least one period of employment: experience of graduate and non-graduate occupations (including current activity) during first 3.5 years after graduation, analysed by mode of study and qualification level

Occupation types (a)

Graduate occupations

only

Graduate and non-

graduate occupations

Non-graduate

occupations only Total

Base (weighted)

% of students in each qualification category Postgraduate

Full-time 83 12 5 100 5980 Part-time 88 6 6 100 3455

First degree Full-time 55 26 19 100 22855 Part-time 74 11 15 100 2295

Other undergraduate Full-time 69 12 19 100 2125 Part-time 68 10 22 100 1070

Source: Derived from Table 4.3, Statistical Annex, HESA (2009).

Notes: (a) Refers to classification of graduate and non-graduate occupations developed by Elias and Purcell (2004). Non-graduate occupations are defined as those which neither typically require university degrees nor offer scope for use of degree-level skills and knowledge.

34

5. Employer support for part-time study Although the longitudinal survey of HE leavers’ destinations sheds more light on labour

market outcomes than the initial survey of leavers six months after graduation, the six-

month survey data is useful for what it conveys about HE leavers’ relationships with

employers during their studies. Therefore, we make use here of results from the 2005-06

Destinations of Leavers from HE (DLHE) survey, combined with the HESA Student

Record for that year, to examine what kind of work HE leavers were doing during their

studies, how far this influenced their choice of employment immediately after graduation

and the extent and nature of any support provided by employers during their studies.

In total some 327,758 HE leavers responded to the DLHE in 2005-06, of whom 311,860

(95%) were UK-domiciled (Table 5.1, Part A). Of these UK-domiciled leavers, only 20%

were classified as part-time students according to the definition established in Section 2,

well below the 39% part-time share of qualifications obtained according to the full

Student Record (Table 3.2). The main cause of this disparity is that the DLHE tends to

exclude many leavers with qualifications in the ‘Other undergraduate’ category. 8

Use of the DLHE highlights a disparity between the Student Record-based definition of

‘part-time’ and students’ own perceptions of whether or not they are engaged in part-time

study. Table 5.2, Part B shows that only 77% of HE leavers classified as part-time in the

Student Record actually responded to questions aimed specifically at part-timers in the

DLHE. Conversely, about 1% of leavers classified as full-time in the Student Record

apparently regarded themselves as studying part-time. In subsequent analyses of DLHE

data all references to ‘part-time’ should be taken as based on the Student Record

definition unless it is specifically stated that we are referring to students who effectively

described themselves as part-time by responding to DLHE questions aimed solely at part-

time students.

8 As shown in Table 3.2, Note a, the main qualifications in this category are Certificates and Diplomas of HE, Undergraduate diplomas or certificates, Professional qualifications at undergraduate level and Institutional undergraduate credits.

35

Table 5.1: Respondents to Destinations of Leavers from HE (DLHE) survey, 2005-06 A: Analysed by mode of study and domicile

UK domiciled

student Non-UK domiciled

student Total Full-time 248434 14203 262637 Part-time 63426 1695 65121 Total 311860 15898 327758

UK domiciled

student Non-UK domiciled

student Total % of students Full-time 95 5 100 Part-time 97 3 100 Total 95 5 100

B: Analysed by mode of study according to Student Record and self-description (UK-domiciled students only)

Mode of study according to

Student Record

Full-time

Part-time Total

Self-described full-time in DLHE 245789 14533 260322 Self-described part-time in DLHE 2645 48893 51538

Total 248434 63426 311860

Self-described part-time as % of total 1 77 17 Source: DLHE Survey and HESA Student Record, 2005-06

Table 5.2 presents a detailed summary of first destinations six months after graduation for

different levels of qualification which have been obtained. Among part-time

undergraduates, some 82% of those who gained First degrees were in paid employment

by this time compared with 75% of those who gained Foundation degrees and 84% of

those with Higher National awards. In the case of full-time leavers, the equivalent

proportions were, respectively, 71%, 48% and 44%. One important source of this

36

disparity is the smaller proportions of part-time leavers carrying on to do further studies.

In addition, only 2% of part-time leavers were unemployed compared to 6% of full-

timers.

About six in ten of all part-time leavers in paid work were still with the same employer

that they had been with during their studies, compared to a fifth of full-time leavers

(Table 5.3). As might be expected, the nature of part-time students’ previous work for

their current employers was predominantly ‘full-time or part-time all year round’ whereas

full-time students who had previously worked for their current employer had more often

had what might be described as ‘preliminary’ or ‘trial’ links with those employers such as

sandwich placements or holiday jobs.

The differences in age and labour market experience between part-tine and full-time

students also show up in HE leavers’ stated reasons for taking up their current

employment. Part-time leavers were more likely than full-timers to agree with

statements that their jobs ‘fitted into my career plan/It was exactly the type of work I

wanted’ or ‘It was an opportunity to progress in the organisation’ (Table 5.4).

Conversely, part-timers were less likely to say that they had taken on their current jobs

primarily to gain experience, find out what the work involved, pay off debts or simply

‘in order to earn a living’.

Turning to DLHE questions which were only asked of HE leavers who regarded

themselves as part-time students, Table 5.5 shows that, at all levels of qualification, a

majority of (self-described) part-time students had had career plans in mind when they

chose to embark on HE studies, and that they were typically more concerned with their

current careers or jobs than with changes in careers or jobs. However, there were some

interesting differences between qualification groups in respect of the role played by

interest in subject matter in deciding whether and what to study part-time. About a third

of part-time First degree leavers mentioned subject interest as a motivation rather than

career objectives. By contrast, only 14-16% of part-time Foundation degree and Higher

National leavers mentioned subject interest as a motivation ahead of career plans.

37

For many part-time students, the close links between their HE studies and career

development were shown by the support given by their employers for their studies. At

Higher National level about six out of ten self-described part-time leavers who had been

in employment reported receiving employer support with their tuition fees (Table 5.6).

This may reflect the tradition of apprenticeship training among students on part-time

Higher National courses. Among First degree and Foundation degree graduates in the

self-described part-time category, some 35-36% of those in employment reported

receiving employer support with their tuition fees. These findings are broadly consistent

with the survey of part-time students carried out for this project which found that

employer support with tuition fees was provided to 68% of fee-paying students on Higher

National courses, 44% of those taking Foundation degrees and 37% engaged in study for

First degrees (Callender, Hopkin and Wilkinson, 2009, Table 5.4). 9

9 Callender, C., Hopkin, R. and Wilkinson, D. (2009), Career Decision-Making and Career Development of Part-Time Higher Education students: Report to the Higher Education Careers Services Unit.

38

Table 5.2: UK-domiciled DLHE respondents, 2005-06, analysed by mode of study, level of qualification obtained and first destinations six months after graduation


Post-graduate

taught First

degrees

Found-ation

degrees


Diplomas

Other under-

graduate qualif-

ications Total % of students in each qualification group Full-time Full-time paid work only (a) 66 73 55 21 20 62 57 Part-time paid work only 5 6 8 6 7 9 8 Voluntary/unpaid work only 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 Work and further study 12 6 8 21 17 10 9 Further study only 9 7 15 46 48 10 15 Assumed to be unemployed 4 4 6 3 4 4 6 Not available for employment 3 2 5 2 2 2 4 Other 1 1 1 1 2 1 1

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 n = 4457 39389 181487 4144 4712 14245 248434

Part-time Full-time paid work only (a) 65 69 56 35 51 57 61 Part-time paid work only 8 8 10 8 3 13 9 Voluntary/unpaid work only 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 Work and further study 15 16 16 42 30 16 17 Further study only 2 3 6 12 10 6 5 Assumed to be unemployed 1 1 4 1 2 2 2 Not available for employment 6 3 5 1 2 4 4 Other 1 1 2 1 1 1 1

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 n = 1579 29036 22618 2188 3316 4689 63426

Source: DLHE Survey and HESA Student Record, 2005-06 Note: (a) Includes self-employed

39

Table 5.3: UK-domiciled DLHE respondents who were in paid work six months after graduation (a), 2005-06, analysed by mode of study, level of qualification obtained and nature of involvement with their present employer before or during their studies


Post-graduate

taught First

degrees

Found-ation

degrees


Diplomas

Other under-

graduate qualif-

ications Total Full-time % of students in each qualification group Sandwich placement 1 1 2 1 2 3 2 Other placement or project work 4 5 3 3 1 12 4 Holiday job 1 1 4 2 3 1 3 Full-time or part-time work all year round 12 6 7 32 21 14 8 Full-time or part-time during term time 4 2 3 10 9 3 3 Employed in other ways 5 1 2 4 5 5 2 Not working for current employer 74 83 79 48 60 62 78

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 n = 3676 33882 129916 1990 2056 11657 183177

Part-time Sandwich placement 0.4 0.4 1 1 0.2 0.4 0.4 Other placement or project work 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Holiday job 1 0.4 1 0.2 0.4 1 0.5 Full-time or part-time work all year round 43 48 46 42 46 41 46 Full-time or part-time during term time 5 8 7 16 7 6 8 Employed in other ways 8 6 6 10 8 7 6 Not working for current employer 43 36 39 31 36 44 38

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 n = 1400 26670 18573 1860 2802 4029 55334

Source: DLHE Survey and HESA Student Record, 2005-06 Note: (a) Refers to those classified as in paid full-time work, paid part-time work or combining work and further study in Table 5.2

Table 5.4: UK-domiciled DLHE respondents who were in paid work six months after graduation (a), 2005-06, analysed by mode of study, level of qualification obtained and reasons for taking on current employment


Post-graduate

taught First

degrees

Found-ation

degrees


Diplomas

Other under-

graduate qualif-

ications Total Full-time

It fitted into my career plan/It was exactly the type of work I wanted 59 53 39 45 31 53 43 It was the best job offer I received/only job offer I received 25 18 19 8 12 15 19

It was an opportunity to progress in the organisation 10 7 14 22 13 13 12 To gain experience in order to get the type of job I really want 18 14 23 22 20 14 20

To see if I would like the type of work it involved 14 7 14 9 12 4 12 To broaden my experience/to develop general skills 28 18 30 29 28 23 28

In order to pay off debts 8 8 14 8 10 5 12 In order to earn a living 31 25 33 34 35 22 31

n = 2065 14839 52133 539 528 4265 74369

Part-time It fitted into my career plan/It was exactly the type of work I wanted 58 54 47 44 39 46 50

It was the best job offer I received/only job offer I received 13 9 9 4 10 6 9 It was an opportunity to progress in the organisation 12 19 20 19 25 18 19

To gain experience in order to get the type of job I really want 8 11 12 16 16 7 11 To see if I would like the type of work it involved 6 5 6 4 7 5 5

To broaden my experience/to develop general skills 17 22 24 21 26 23 23 In order to pay off debts 4 3 3 1 2 2 3 In order to earn a living 24 21 29 19 24 21 24

n = 791 13201 8945 858 890 1514 26199 Source: DLHE Survey and HESA Student Record, 2005-06 Note: (a) Refers to a subset of those classified as in paid full-time work, paid part-time work or combining work and further study

Table 5.5: UK-domiciled DLHE respondents who described themselves as having been part-time students, 2005-06, analysed by level of qualification obtained and main motivation for taking HE course


Post-graduate

taught First

degrees

Found-ation

degrees


Diplomas

Other under-

graduate qualif-

ications Total % of students in each qualification group To get on in current career or job 46 58 44 59 64 59 53 To help change career or job 5 12 14 14 12 9 12 Interest in subject matter 39 21 32 16 14 19 25 Other reasons 10 9 10 12 11 12 10

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

n = 1257 23664 18631 1672 2485 3829 51538 Source: DLHE Survey Note: Question asked only of HE leavers who regarded themselves as having gained their qualification wholly or mostly through part-time study

42

Table 5.6: UK-domiciled DLHE respondents who described themselves as having been part-time students (a) and in employment during their course, 2005-06, analysed by level of qualification obtained and extent of support from their employer during their studies


Post-graduate

taught First

degrees

Found-ation

degrees


Diplomas

Other under-

graduate qualif-

ications Total % of students in each qualification group Type of support received from employer (b):

Tuition fees paid 45 52 34 32 62 54 45 Grant to cover

tuition fees and living expenses 3 2 1 4 1 2 2

Study leave 21 33 26 26 32 33 30 Supported in

other ways 31 27 23 40 23 29 26

Supported by employer in at least one way 69 76 57 76 77 76 69

n = 560 9721 7484 643 624 1058 20090

Source: DLHE Survey Note: (a) Question asked only of HE leavers who regarded themselves as having gained their qualification wholly or mostly through part-time study and who reported having been in employment during their studies (b) Multiple responses permitted for individuals who reported receiving some support from their employers during their studies.

43

6. Overview: disaggregating the part-time student population Part-time HE students are clearly distinctive for typically being older, more likely to be

female and more likely to already hold HE qualifications than are full-time students

(Section 3). These characteristics – in particular, part-time students’ typically longer

periods of prior work experience as a result of being older – help ensure that on most

criteria of labour market performance (for example, employment rates and occupational

status) part-time students are on average ahead of full-time students (Section 4). Part-time

students are also more likely on average to report that their current jobs fit into their

career plans and provide opportunities for progression (Section 5).

However, for purposes of this project it is important not to generalize too much about

part-time students and instead to seek to identify distinctive groups of part-timers which

differ from each other on key criteria. For this purpose we focus in particular on:

(1) whether part-time leavers are economically active, that is, whether they are employed,

unemployed (but seeking employment) or inactive (not seeking employment)

(2) if they are in paid work, what salary bracket they are in.

Salary levels are often taken as a fair indicator of labour market performance since it is

assumed that they are at least partly related to individual productivity in the workplace as

well as being strongly associated with age, experience, occupational status and a number

of other individual and workplace characteristics.

Table 6.1 therefore shows the mix of qualifications gained by nine different groups of

part-time leavers in the DLHE sample. As might be expected, part-time leavers with

postgraduate qualifications are generally well-represented in the higher-salary groups. By

contrast, undergraduates are associated with relatively low salaries and with continuing

their studies while not in paid employment. Part-time First degree graduates are also

over-represented among part-time leavers classified as unemployed or unavailable for

employment, but the same does not apply to holders of Foundation degree or Higher

National awards.

44

Tables 6.2-6.5 then show how the none different groups of part-time HE leavers differ

from each other in terms of gender, age, extent of part-time working and combining paid

work with further study and principal subject of study.

The main characteristics of each group may be summarized as follows: (1) In paid work with annual salary of £40,000 or more

Disproportionately male, predominantly aged between 30-49, least likely to be working

part-time, most likely to hold qualifications at postgraduate level and to have taken

courses in business and administrative studies areas.

(2) In paid work with annual salary between £30-40,000

60% female, in line with part-time students as a whole. Predominantly aged between 30-

49. Below average rate of part-time working. Almost two thirds hold qualifications at

postgraduate level, Main subject areas are subjects allied to medicine, business and

administrative studies and education.

(3) In paid work with annual salary between £20-30,000

Two thirds female, above average for part-time students as a whole. Predominantly aged

between 25-49. 8% rate of part-time working is in line with average for part-time leavers.

Some 43% of this group have a highest qualification at First degree level and another

15% are qualified below First degree level. Main subject areas are subjects allied to

medicine, business and administrative studies, education and social studies.

(4) In paid work with annual salary below £20,000

Almost three quarters female, well above average for part-time students as a whole.

Predominantly aged between 21-49. 19% rate of part-time working is well above average

for part-time leavers. Almost half of this group have a highest qualification at First

degree level and another 22% are qualified below First degree level, mainly at

Foundation degree and Higher National level. Main subject areas are subjects allied to

medicine, business and administrative studies and education.

45

(5) In paid work, salary not known This is a rather large group accounting for 44% of all HE leavers in the sample. In

general it is representative of the sample as a whole in terms of the mix of qualification

aims, gender, age-groups and subject of study. This suggests that our estimates for the

other groups under consideration have not been distorted by the absence of salary data for

so many leavers.

(6) Undertaking further study, not in employment

63% female, roughly in line with the average for part-time students as a whole.

Predominantly aged between 21-49. Some 42% of this group have a highest qualification

at First degree level and another 30% are qualified below First degree level, mainly at

Foundation degree and Higher National level. Main subject areas are business and

administrative studies and education with a wide scattering of other subjects such as

social studies and law.

(7) Unemployed (but seeking work)

55% female, below average for part-time students as a whole. Predominantly aged

between 21-49. Almost six out ten leavers in this group have a highest qualification at

First degree level while 28% hold postgraduate qualifications. Main subject areas are

business and administrative studies and computer science with a wide scattering of other

subjects.

(8) Not available for employment (economically inactive)

65% female, roughly in line with the average for part-time students as a whole. One in

three of them are aged 60 years or more while 20% are aged below 30 and 48% aged

between 30-59. Just over half of this group have a highest qualification at First degree

level while 36% hold postgraduate qualifications. Main subject areas are notably non-

vocational in nature: either ‘not classified’ by subject or allocated to historical and

philosophical studies.

46

This disaggregation thus provides many plausible insights into the diversity of labour

market outcomes and career prospects among part-time HE students which need to be

taken into account in this project.

Table 6.1: Part-time UK-domiciled HE leavers, 2005-06, analysed by employment and labour force participation group and highest level of qualification obtained

In paid work, salary £40000 or more

In paid work, salary

£30000-39999


£20000-29999

In paid work, salary below £20000


not known

Under-taking further study, not in em-

ployment

Unemp-loyed

Not available

for employ-

ment Other Total

% of part-time HE leavers Postgraduate research 5 3 2 1 3 1 1 4 3 2 Postgraduate taught 73 62 41 27 48 27 27 32 31 46 First degrees 19 29 43 49 30 42 59 53 52 36 Foundation degrees 1 1 2 8 4 9 1 1 1 3 Higher National Certificates/ Diplomas 1 2 5 7 6 11 4 3 4 5 Other undergraduate qualifications 2 3 8 7 9 9 6 7 9 7

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

n = 4667 6878 9764 6287 27738 3023 1571 2290 1208 63426 Source: DLHE Survey and HESA Student Record, 2005-06

48

Table 6.2: Part-time UK-domiciled HE leavers, 2005-06, analysed by employment and labour force participation group, gender and age group



£30000-39999


£20000-29999



not known

Further study

Unemp-loyed

Not available

for employ-

ment Other Total % of part-time HE leavers Female 37 60 67 73 61 63 55 65 72 61 Under 21 0.1 0.2 0.9 2.3 1.3 3.7 1.2 0.3 0.7 1.2 21-24 years 1 3 12 23 13 23 22 10 9 12 25-29 years 8 13 22 16 16 15 16 10 10 16 30-39 years 40 35 30 24 30 28 24 21 22 30 40-49 years 37 36 26 25 29 21 25 12 23 28 50-59 years 12 12 8 9 10 7 9 15 19 10 60 years and over 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 32 17 3 Age unknown 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.1 0 0 0.1 0.1

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100


49

Table 6.3: Part-time UK-domiciled HE leavers, 2005-06, analysed by employment and labour force participation group and first destinations after completing HE studies



£30000-39999


£20000-29999



not known

Further study

Unemp-loyed

Not available

for employ-

ment Other Total % of part-time HE leavers Full-time paid work only(including self-employed) 79 73 71 52 72 61 Part-time paid work only 2 5 8 20 11 9 Voluntary/unpaid work only 31 1 Work and further study 19 22 21 28 17 17 Further study only 100 5 Assumed to be unemployed 100 2 Not available for employment 100 4 Other 69 1

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100


50

Table 6.4: Part-time UK-domiciled HE leavers, 2005-06, analysed by employment and labour force participation group and principal subject of study


£40000 or more

In paid work, salary £30000-39999


£20000-29999



not known

Further study

Unem-ployed

Not available

for employ-

ment Other Total % of part-time HE leavers Medicine and dentistry 4 2 1 0.3 2 1 0.4 1 0.3 2 Subjects allied to medicine 7 19 20 10 17 7 7 8 8 15 Biological sciences 3 4 4 6 3 6 6 5 6 4 Veterinary science 0.04 0.1 0.04 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.1 Agriculture & related subjects 0.1 0.2 0.5 1 1 1 1 0.4 0.3 0.5 Physical sciences 1 1 2 3 1 3 3 2 3 2 Mathematical sciences 1 1 1 1 0.4 1 1 1 1 1 Computer science 4 3 3 5 4 6 10 3 3 4 Engineering and technology 6 6 6 4 6 5 5 3 2 5 Architecture, building & planning 3 5 7 3 5 4 3 2 2 5 Social studies 6 8 11 8 7 8 6 8 9 8 Law 5 2 2 3 3 8 5 3 4 3 Business & administrative studies 38 20 14 12 18 12 15 9 9 18 Mass communications & documentation 0.3 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 Languages 1 1 2 3 2 5 3 7 5 2 Historical & philosophical studies 2 2 2 5 2 6 4 14 13 3 Creative arts & design 1 1 2 3 3 5 6 6 7 3 Education 11 18 13 19 20 11 7 7 9 16 Not classified 5 6 6 10 3 7 10 17 13 6 Combinations 1 2 2 4 3 4 6 3 4 3

Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 n = 4667 6878 9764 6287 27738 3023 1571 2290 1208 63426

Source: DLHE Survey and HESA Student Record, 2005-06

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