Academic year 2023/24

Participation measures in higher education

Data guidance

Published 29 January 2026

Description

This guidance describes the data included in the Participation Measures in Higher Education: 2023/24 Official Statistics release’s underlying data files. This data is released under the terms of the Open Government License (opens in new tab) and is intended to meet at least 3 stars for Open Data (opens in new tab).

The methodology page attached to this release should be referenced alongside this data. It provides information on the data sources, their coverage and quality as well as explaining methodology used in producing the data. 

Coverage

The release covers the latest Cohort-based Higher Education Participation (CHEP) measure.

For each cohort of pupils registered at English schools at age 15, we track their participation rates in HE by age 25 (CHEP-25). Participation rates by age 20 and by age 30 (CHEP-20, CHEP-30) are included in the underlying data files.

Data files in this publication have been produced under two different coverages. Files designated by ‘previous methodology’ have been produced in accordance with the previous publication methodology (used for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 publications and most of the 2022/23 publication), while all other files use the current methodology, which includes work-based learning, such as apprenticeships. See the methodology note for further information.

Rounding and suppression

Headcounts have not been rounded in order to maximise the utility of the statistics while minimising the risk of disclosure. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.

More information about the Departmental policy on confidentiality can be found here:

External_Confidentiality_Policy (opens in new tab) 

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.

Overall

• Filename: chep_overall.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2001/02 to 2018/19
• Content:
  HE participation by ages 25, 20 and 30 (CHEP-25, CHEP-20, CHEP-30)

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entrants	Entrants
entry_age	Entry age
rate	Rate
sc_population	School census population

Footnotes

1. "No data" refers to where a cohort has not yet reached the age specified by the 2023/24 academic year.

Age

• Filename: chep_age.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2001/02 to 2021/22
• Content:
  HE participation by specific age, up to age 37, including a cumulative rate

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
age_in_he	Age entered HE
cumulative_rate	Cumulative rate
entrants	Entrants
rate	Rate
sc_population	School census population

Footnotes

1. "No data" refers to where a cohort has not yet reached the age specified by the 2023/24 academic year.
2. For the 2005/06 cohort, the rate for 18-year-olds is understated. This is explained in the Limitations section in the Methodology.

Sex

• Filename: chep_sex.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2001/02 to 2018/19
• Content:
  HE participation by ages 25, 20 and 30 (CHEP-25, CHEP-20, CHEP-30) by sex

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entrants	Entrants
entry_age	Entry age
rate	Rate
sc_population	School census population
sex	Sex

Region

• Filename: chep_region.csv
• Geographic levels: National; Regional
• Time period: 2001/02 to 2018/19
• Content:
  HE participation by ages 25, 20 and 30 (CHEP-25, CHEP-20, CHEP-30) by region

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entrants	Entrants
entry_age	Entry age
rate	Rate
sc_population	School census population

Free School Meals

• Filename: chep_free_school_meals.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2001/02 to 2018/19
• Content:
  HE participation by ages 25, 20 and 30 (CHEP-25, CHEP-20, CHEP-30) by free school meal eligibility

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entrants	Entrants
entry_age	Entry age
free_school_meals	Free school meals
rate	Rate
sc_population	School census population

Disadvantage

• Filename: chep_disadvantage.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2009/10 to 2018/19
• Content:
  HE participation by ages 25, 20 and 30 (CHEP-25, CHEP-20, CHEP-30) by disadvantage

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
disadvantage	Disadvantage
entrants	Entrants
entry_age	Entry age
rate	Rate
sc_population	School census population

Footnotes

1. Only the latest five years of data (relating to the 15-year-old cohorts between 2009/10 and 2013/14), for which we have complete and consistent breakdowns, have been published.

Qualification aim

• Filename: chep_qualification_group.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2001/02 to 2018/19
• Content:
  HE participation by ages 25, 20 and 30 (CHEP-25, CHEP-20, CHEP-30) by qualification aim

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entrants	Entrants
entry_age	Entry age
qualification_group	Qualification group
rate	Rate
sc_population	School census population

Footnotes

1. These figures refer to the first time a pupil participates in HE level study. A pupil may return to HE level study in a future academic year and participate in a different qualification aim, level or mode of study compared to their original qualification. Only the first qualification is counted towards the CHEP measures.

Level of study

• Filename: chep_level.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2004/05 to 2018/19
• Content:
  HE participation by ages 25, 20 and 30 (CHEP-25, CHEP-20, CHEP-30) by level of study

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entrants	Entrants
entry_age	Entry age
level	Level
level_grouped	Level grouped
rate	Rate
sc_population	School census population

Footnotes

1. "No data" refers to where a cohort has not yet reached the age specified by the 2023/24 academic year.
2. These figures refer to the first time a pupil participates in HE level study. A pupil may return to HE level study in a future academic year and participate in a different qualification aim, level or mode of study compared to their original qualification. Only the first qualification is counted towards the CHEP measures.
3. Only the years relating to the 15-year-old cohorts from 2004/05 onwards, for which we have complete and consistent breakdowns, have been published. See the methodology note for more information.

Mode of study

• Filename: chep_mode.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2001/02 to 2018/19
• Content:
  HE participation by ages 25, 20 and 30 (CHEP-25, CHEP-20, CHEP-30) by mode of study

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entrants	Entrants
entry_age	Entry age
mode	Mode
rate	Rate
sc_population	School census population

Footnotes

1. These figures refer to the first time a pupil participates in HE level study. A pupil may return to HE level study in a future academic year and participate in a different qualification aim, level or mode of study compared to their original qualification. Only the first qualification is counted towards the CHEP measures.

Qualification aim and level of study

• Filename: chep_qualification_group_and_level.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2004/05 to 2018/19
• Content:
  HE participation by ages 25, 20 and 30 (CHEP-25, CHEP-20, CHEP-30) by qualification aim and level of study

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entrants	Entrants
entry_age	Entry age
level	Level
qualification_group	Qualification group
rate	Rate
sc_population	School census population

Footnotes

1. These figures refer to the first time a pupil participates in HE level study. A pupil may return to HE level study in a future academic year and participate in a different qualification aim, level or mode of study compared to their original qualification. Only the first qualification is counted towards the CHEP measures.
2. Only the years relating to the 15-year-old cohorts from 2004/05 onwards, for which we have complete and consistent breakdowns, have been published. See the methodology note for more information.
3. A small number of qualifications may be incorrectly assigned to a level in the Individualised Learner Record (ILR) data used for this publication and the level recorded in the ILR data has been retained. Although the overall impact on the figures is small, it may be evident when analysing outputs by level and qualification aim.

Methodology comparison

• Filename: chep_methodology_comparison.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2001/02 to 2018/19
• Content:
  HE participation by ages 25, 20 and 30 (CHEP-25, CHEP-20, CHEP-30), comparing current and previous methodology

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entry_age	Entry age
new_entrants	Entrants (new methodology)
new_rate	Rate (new methodology)
old_entrants	Entrants (previous methodology)
old_rate	Rate (previous methodology)
sc_population	School census population

Overall - previous methodology

• Filename: chep_overall_previous_methodology.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2001/02 to 2018/19
• Content:
  HE participation by ages 25, 20 and 30 (CHEP-25, CHEP-20, CHEP-30) (previous methodology)

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entrants	Entrants
entry_age	Entry age
rate	Rate
sc_population	School census population

Footnotes

1. "No data" refers to where a cohort has not yet reached the age specified by the 2023/24 academic year.

Age - previous methodology

• Filename: chep_age_previous_methodology.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2001/02 to 2021/22
• Content:
  HE participation by specific age, up to age 37, including a cumulative rate (previous methodology)

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
age_in_he	Age entered HE
cumulative_rate	Cumulative rate
entrants	Entrants
rate	Rate
sc_population	School census population

Footnotes

1. "No data" refers to where a cohort has not yet reached the age specified by the 2023/24 academic year.
2. For the 2005/06 cohort, the rate for 18-year-olds is understated. This is explained in the Limitations section in the Methodology.

Sex - previous methodology

• Filename: chep_sex_previous_methodology.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2001/02 to 2018/19
• Content:
  HE participation by ages 25, 20 and 30 (CHEP-25, CHEP-20, CHEP-30) by sex (previous methodology)

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entrants	Entrants
entry_age	Entry age
rate	Rate
sc_population	School census population
sex	Sex

Region - previous methodology

• Filename: chep_region_previous_methodology.csv
• Geographic levels: National; Regional
• Time period: 2001/02 to 2018/19
• Content:
  HE participation by ages 25, 20 and 30 (CHEP-25, CHEP-20, CHEP-30) by region (previous methodology)

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entrants	Entrants
entry_age	Entry age
rate	Rate
sc_population	School census population

Qualification aim - previous methodology

• Filename: chep_qualification_group_previous_methodology.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2001/02 to 2018/19
• Content:
  HE participation by ages 25, 20 and 30 (CHEP-25, CHEP-20, CHEP-30) by qualification aim (previous methodology)

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entrants	Entrants
entry_age	Entry age
qualification_group	Qualification group
rate	Rate
sc_population	School census population

Footnotes

1. These figures refer to the first time a pupil participates in HE level study. A pupil may return to HE level study in a future academic year and participate in a different qualification aim, level or mode of study compared to their original qualification. Only the first qualification is counted towards the CHEP measures.
2. The figures in this table may not match the equivalent figures of previous releases due to revisions in the underlying data and methodology. Most notably, for earlier school cohorts, some entrants that were previously counted under "Other Undergraduate Qualifications" have been revised to be counted under "Foundation Degree" or "HNC/HND".

Mode of study - previous methodology

• Filename: chep_mode_previous_methodology.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2001/02 to 2018/19
• Content:
  HE participation by ages 25, 20 and 30 (CHEP-25, CHEP-20, CHEP-30) by mode of study (previous methodology)

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entrants	Entrants
entry_age	Entry age
mode	Mode
rate	Rate
sc_population	School census population

Footnotes

1. These figures refer to the first time a pupil participates in HE level study. A pupil may return to HE level study in a future academic year and participate in a different qualification aim, level or mode of study compared to their original qualification. Only the first qualification is counted towards the CHEP measures.

Projected measure

• Filename: projected_measure.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2006/07 to 2023/24
• Content:
  A comparison of a HEIP-like projection using cohort-based figures against the old HEIP projection measure

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
entrants	Entrants
methodology	Methodology
rate	Rate