NI Higher Education Numbers Fall

The number of Northern Ireland students enrolled at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the UK fell by 2% between 2011/12 and 2012/13, according to figures released by the Deployment for Employment and Learning.

This is despite the total number having increased by 2% over ten years.

Over the last ten academic years the total number of students enrolled at NI HEIs increased by 1%. But between 2011/12 and 2012/13 the figure fell by less than 1%.

Of the 64,400 NI students enrolled at UK HEIs in 2012/13, 67% were enrolled at an NI HEI, 26% at an HEI in Great Britain and 7% were studying through the Open University.

Of the 51,715 students enrolled at NI HEIs in 2012/13, 84% were from NI, 5% from the Republic of Ireland, 4% from Great Britain, 1% from other EU countries and 6% from non EU countries.

The number of qualifications obtained by NI-domiciled students at UK HEIs rose 13% over the past 10 years. Between 2011/12 and 2012/13 the figure remained the same.

The number of qualifications obtained by students at NI HEIs has increased by 18% over the past 10 years. Between 2011/12 and 2012/13, this figure increased by 2%.

Of the 16,375 students gaining qualifications at NI HEIs in 2012/13, 78% were from Northern Ireland, 11% from the Republic of Ireland, 3% from Great Britain and 8% from either other EU or non EU countries.

(IT/MH)