Academic year 2020/21

Higher Level Learners in England

Data guidance

Published 23 June 2022

Description

This document describes the data included in the Higher Level Learners in England, 2020/21 statistical release’s underlying data files. 

Coverage

This release refers only to learners in England doing study aims at education levels 4 to 8 (opens in a new tab). 

Analysis is presented for English domiciled learners to reflect funding eligibility more closely and allow for consistent comparisons across both HESA and ILR sources.

Most of the data included in this release refers to academic year 2020/21. Time series data for academic years 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 has also been included at summary level.

Rounding and suppression

The Code of Practice for Official Statistics (opens in a new tab) requires DfE to take reasonable steps to ensure that its published or disseminated statistics protect confidentiality.

Throughout the publication, all numbers are rounded to the nearest 5 to preserve confidentiality. Percentages are calculated on pre-rounded data but are not published if they are fractions of a small group of people (fewer than 22.5).

Due to rounding, it is possible that the sum of the category percentages may not always total to 100%.

Data files

All data files associated with this releases are listed below with guidance on their content. To download any of these files, please visit our data catalogue.

Data files

All data files associated with this releases are listed below with guidance on their content. To download any of these files, please visit our data catalogue.

Headline key stats - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: headline_stats_summary.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  Headline statistics used in the blue summary boxes of the publication.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entrants_level4	Entrants to Level 4 in 2020/21
entrants_level5	Entrants to Level 5 in 2020/21
entrants_level6	Entrants to Level 6 in 2020/21
entrants_level7	Entrants to Level 7 in 2020/21
entrants_level8	Entrants to Level 8 in 2020/21
percentage_HEPs	Percentage of higher-level entrants registered in Higher Education Providers (HEPs) in 2020/21

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learner achievements by Age group and Mode of study - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_achievements_by_age_group_mode.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level achievements in England by age group and mode of study, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
age_group	Age group
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
mode_of_study	Mode of study
number_of_achievements_total	All achievements
percentage_all_achievements_by_characteristic	Percentage of all achievements by characteristic

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learner achievements by Disability - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_achievements_by_disability.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level achievements in England by disability, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
disability	Disability status
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_achievements_total	All achievements
percentage_all_achievements_by_characteristic	Percentage of all achievements by characteristic

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learner achievements by Ethnicity - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_achievements_by_ethnicity.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level achievements in England by ethnicity, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
ethnicity	Ethinicity
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_achievements_total	All achievements
percentage_all_achievements_by_characteristic	Percentage of all achievements by characteristic

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learner achievements by Index of multiple deprivation quintile - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_achievements_by_imd_quintile.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level achievements in England by Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintile of domicile, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
IMD_quintile	Index of multiple deprivation quintile
level	Qualification level
number_of_achievements_total	All achievements
percentage_all_achievements_by_characteristic	Percentage of all achievements by characteristic

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learner achievements by Mode of study - 2015/16 to 2020/21 academic years

• Filename: achievements_higher_level_learner_achievements_by_study_mode.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2015/16 to 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level achievements in England by mode of study, academic years 2015/16 to 2020/21. OfS-recognised HE learners only.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
level	Qualification level
mode_of_study	Mode of study
number_of_achievements_total	All achievements
percentage_all_achievements_by_characteristic	Percentage of all achievements by characteristic

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learner achievements by Primary funding source and Mode of study - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_achievements_by_primary_funding_source_mode.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level achievements in England by primary funding source of tuition fees and mode of study, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
mode_of_study	Mode of study
number_of_achievements_total	All achievements
percentage_all_achievements_by_characteristic	Percentage of all achievements by characteristic
primary_funding_source	Funding

Footnotes

1. Those receiving a Master's Loan (https://www.gov.uk/masters-loan) are not reported as having a student loan as their primary source of tuition fee funding in this data. Unlike for undergraduate loans, money is paid directly to individual learners themselves and providers do not receive the student loans funding directly.
2. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learner achievements by Provider category - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_achievements_by_provider_category.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level achievements in England by registered provider type, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_achievements_total	All achievements
percentage_all_achievements_by_characteristic	Percentage of all achievements by characteristic
provider_category	Provider category

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learner achievements by Region - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_achievements_by_region.csv
• Geographic levels: National; Regional
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level achievements in England by region of domicile, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_achievements_total	All achievements
percentage_all_achievements_by_characteristic	Percentage of all achievements by characteristic

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learner achievements by Sex - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_achievements_by_sex.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level achievements in England by sex, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_achievements_total	All achievements
percentage_all_achievements_by_characteristic	Percentage of all achievements by characteristic
sex	Gender

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learner achievements by Subject (CAH level 1) - 2019/20 to 2020/21 academic years

• Filename: achievements_higher_level_learner_achievements_by_cah_subject_first_level_grouping.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2019/20 to 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level achievements in England by subject area of study (Common Aggregation Hierarchy level 1), academic years 2019/20 to 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
CAH_subject_first_level_grouping	CAH subject first level grouping
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_achievements_total	All achievements
percentage_all_achievements_by_characteristic	Percentage of all achievements by characteristic

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learner achievements by Subject (CAH level 2) - 2019/20 to 2020/21 academic years

• Filename: achievements_higher_level_learner_achievements_by_cah_subject_second_level_grouping.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2019/20 to 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level achievements in England by subject area of study (Common Aggregation Hierarchy level 2), academic years 2019/20 to 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
CAH_subject_second_level_grouping	CAH subject second level grouping
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_achievements_total	All achievements
percentage_all_achievements_by_characteristic	Percentage of all achievements by characteristic

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learner achievements by technical route - 2019/20 to 2020/21 academic years

• Filename: higher_level_learner_achievements_by_technical_route.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2019/20 to 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level achievements in England by technical route, academic year 2019/20 to 2020/21. OfS-recognised HE and Other Higher Level learners only (i.e. excluding apprenticeships and institutional credit)

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_achievements_total	All achievements
percentage_all_achievements_by_characteristic	Percentage of all achievements by characteristic
technical_route	Technical route

Higher level learner achievements by type of higher level learning - 2015/16 to 2020/21 academic years

• Filename: achievements_higher_level_learner_achievements_by_type_of_higher_level_learning.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2015/16 to 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level achievements in England by type of higher level learning, academic years 2015/16 to 2020/21.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
he_type	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_achievements_total	All achievements
percentage_all_achievements_by_characteristic	Percentage of all achievements

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.
2. The “Other Higher Level (Unfunded higher level)” category is a lower bound estimate. There is likely to be some unfunded-learning in FE providers that is not recorded as it is only mandatory for providers to record information in the ILR for their ESFA-funded learners. There may also be higher level learning in the private sector that is not recorded in administrative data held by government.

Higher level learners by Age group and Mode of study - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_numbers_by_age_group_mode.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level learners in England by age group and mode of study, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
age_group	Age group
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
mode_of_study	Mode of study
number_of_enrolments_total	All enrolments
number_of_entrants	Number of entrants
percentage_all_enrolments_by_characteristic	Percentage of all enrolments by characteristic
percentage_entrants_by_characteristic	Percentage of entrants by characteristic

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learners by Disability - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_numbers_by_disability.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level learners in England by disability, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
disability	Disability status
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_enrolments_total	All enrolments
number_of_entrants	Number of entrants
percentage_all_enrolments_by_characteristic	Percentage of all enrolments by characteristic
percentage_entrants_by_characteristic	Percentage of entrants by characteristic

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learners by Equivalent or lower qualification - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_numbers_by_equivalent_or_lower_qualification.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level learners in England by Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) status, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
equivalent_or_lower_qualification	Equivalent or lower qualification
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_enrolments_total	All enrolments
number_of_entrants	Number of entrants
percentage_all_enrolments_by_characteristic	Percentage of all enrolments by characteristic
percentage_entrants_by_characteristic	Percentage of entrants by characteristic

Footnotes

1. Caution should be applied when interpreting these statistics due to the high level of unknowns. To allow for comparisons across learning types, the following percentages are based on learners where ELQ status is known.
2. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learners by Ethnicity - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_numbers_by_ethnicity.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level learners in England by ethnicity, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
ethnicity	Ethnicity
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_enrolments_total	All enrolments
number_of_entrants	Number of entrants
percentage_all_enrolments_by_characteristic	Percentage of all enrolments by characteristic
percentage_entrants_by_characteristic	Percentage of entrants by characteristic

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learners by Index of multiple deprivation quintile - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_numbers_by_imd_quintile.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level learners in England by Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintile of domicile, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
IMD_quintile	Index of multiple deprivation quintile
level	Qualification level
number_of_enrolments_total	All enrolments
number_of_entrants	Number of entrants
percentage_all_enrolments_by_characteristic	Percentage of all enrolments by characteristic
percentage_entrants_by_characteristic	Percentage of entrants by characteristic

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learners by Mode of study - 2015/16 to 2020/21 academic years

• Filename: higher_level_learner_numbers_by_study_mode.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2015/16 to 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level learners in England by mode of study, academic years 2015/16 to 2020/21. OfS-recognised HE learners only.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
level	Qualification level
mode_of_study	Mode of study
number_of_enrolments_total	All enrolments
number_of_entrants	Number of entrants
percentage_all_enrolments_by_characteristic	Percentage of all enrolments by characteristic
percentage_entrants_by_characteristic	Percentage of entrants by characteristic

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learners by Primary funding source and Mode of study - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_numbers_by_primary_funding_source_mode.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level learners in England by primary funding source of tuition fees and mode of study, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
mode_of_study	Mode of study
number_of_enrolments_total	All enrolments
number_of_entrants	Number of entrants
percentage_all_enrolments_by_characteristic	Percentage of all enrolments by characteristic
percentage_entrants_by_characteristic	Percentage of entrants by characteristic
primary_funding_source	Funding

Footnotes

1. Those receiving a Master's Loan (https://www.gov.uk/masters-loan) are not reported as having a student loan as their primary source of tuition fee funding in this data. Unlike for undergraduate loans, money is paid directly to individual learners themselves and providers do not receive the student loans funding directly.
2. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learners by Provider category - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_numbers_by_provider_category.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level learners in England by registered provider type, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_enrolments_total	All enrolments
number_of_entrants	Number of entrants
percentage_all_enrolments_by_characteristic	Percentage of all enrolments by characteristic
percentage_entrants_by_characteristic	Percentage of entrants by characteristic
provider_category	Provider category

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learners by Qualification aim - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_numbers_by_qualification_aim.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level learners in England by qualification aim, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_enrolments_total	All enrolments
number_of_entrants	Number of entrants
percentage_all_enrolments_by_characteristic	Percentage of all enrolments by characteristic
percentage_entrants_by_characteristic	Percentage of entrants by characteristic
qualification_aim	Qualification aim

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learners by Region - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_numbers_by_region.csv
• Geographic levels: National; Regional
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level learners in England by region of domicile, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_enrolments_total	All enrolments
number_of_entrants	Number of entrants
percentage_all_enrolments_by_characteristic	Percentage of all enrolments by characteristic
percentage_entrants_by_characteristic	Percentage of entrants by characteristic

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learners by Sex - 2020/21 academic year

• Filename: higher_level_learner_numbers_by_sex.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level learners in England by sex, academic year 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_enrolments_total	All enrolments
number_of_entrants	Number of entrants
percentage_all_enrolments_by_characteristic	Percentage of all enrolments by characteristic
percentage_entrants_by_characteristic	Percentage of entrants by characteristic
sex	Sex

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learners by Subject (CAH level 1) - 2019/20 to 2020/21 academic years

• Filename: higher_level_learner_numbers_by_cah_subject_first_level_grouping.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2019/20 to 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level learners in England by subject area of study (Common Aggregation Hierarchy level 1), academic years 2019/20 to 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
CAH_subject_first_level_grouping	CAH subject first level grouping
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_enrolments_total	All enrolments
number_of_entrants	Number of entrants
percentage_all_enrolments_by_characteristic	Percentage of all enrolments by characteristic
percentage_entrants_by_characteristic	Percentage of entrants by characteristic

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learners by Subject (CAH level 2) - 2019/20 to 2020/21 academic years

• Filename: higher_level_learner_numbers_by_cah_subject_second_level_grouping.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2019/20 to 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level learners in England by subject area of study (Common Aggregation Hierarchy level 2), academic years 2019/20 to 2020/21

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
CAH_subject_second_level_grouping	CAH subject second level grouping
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_enrolments_total	All enrolments
number_of_entrants	Number of entrants
percentage_all_enrolments_by_characteristic	Percentage of all enrolments by characteristic
percentage_entrants_by_characteristic	Percentage of entrants by characteristic

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.

Higher level learners by Technical route - 2019/20 to 2020/21 academic years

• Filename: higher_level_learner_numbers_by_technical_route.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2019/20 to 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level learners in England by technical route, academic years 2019/20 to 2020/21. OfS-recognised HE and Other Higher Level learners only (i.e. excluding apprenticeships and institutional credit)

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
he_type_broad	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_enrolments_total	All enrolments
number_of_entrants	Number of entrants
percentage_all_enrolments_by_characteristic	Percentage of all enrolments by characteristic
percentage_entrants_by_characteristic	Percentage of entrants by characteristic
technical_route	Technical route

Higher level learners by Type of higher level learning - 2015/16 to 2020/21 academic years

• Filename: higher_level_learner_numbers_by_type_of_higher_level_learning.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2015/16 to 2020/21
• Content:

  English domiciled higher-level learners in England by type of higher level learning, academic years 2015/16 to 2020/21.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
he_type	Type of higher level learning
level	Qualification level
number_of_enrolments_total	All enrolments
number_of_entrants	Number of entrants
percentage_all_enrolments_by_characteristic	Percentage of all enrolments
percentage_entrants_by_characteristic	Percentage of entrants

Footnotes

1. See the About this release section for explanation of differences from other official statistics on apprenticeships and higher education.
2. The “Other Higher Level (Unfunded higher level)” category is a lower bound estimate. There is likely to be some unfunded-learning in FE providers that is not recorded as it is only mandatory for providers to record information in the ILR for their ESFA-funded learners. There may also be higher level learning in the private sector that is not recorded in administrative data held by government.