Background to the Research

• This Press Release was produced by DENI using data collected by HESA. It gives details of Northern Ireland domiciled students on Higher Education Courses in the UK and the ROI and details of all students on Higher Education courses in NI Institutions for the 1998/99 academic year.
  

Main Findings

Northern Ireland Students at UK and ROI Institutions

• The number of full-time undergraduate students from Northern Ireland on Higher Education courses in the UK and the ROI - 37,311 in 1998/99 - has risen sharply by 71% over the past decade. The number of part-time undergraduates has also been rising steadily, and has increased threefold over the same period, although this is affected by the mainstreaming of continuing education courses.
  
  
• Total enrolments of Northern Ireland domiciled students on Higher Education courses at UK and ROI institutions stood at 63, 917 in 1998/99. Northern Ireland domiciled undergraduate enrolments stood at 54,808 in 1998/99, and postgraduate enrolments were 9,109. There were 40,858 full-time and 23,059 part-time students.
  
  
• Full-time undergraduate enrolments increased by 1% between 1997/98 and 1998/99, whilst postgraduate enrolments decreased by 6%.
  
  
• In 1998/99, females accounted for 58% of students from Northern Ireland: 59% of undergraduates and almost 51% of postgraduates.
  
  
• In 1998/99, 84% of first year full-time undergraduate students were aged under 21, whereas 89% of first year part-time undergraduate students (of known age) were aged 21 and over.
  
  
• Most students from Northern Ireland in 1998/99 were studying in the Province, but some 28% were located in GB, and 2% in ROI. Among full-time undergraduates some 35% were studying outside Northern Ireland.
  
  
• The most popular subject areas for full-time undergraduates from the Province studying in the UK in 1998/99 were Business and Administration (17%), subjects allied to Medicine (11%) and Social Studies (7%).

Enrolments at Northern Ireland Institutions

• Total Enrolments on Higher Education courses at Northern Ireland institutions stood at 51,472 in 1998/99, of which 60% were female. Undergraduate enrolments at NI institutions stood at 43,395 in 1998/99, and postgraduate enrolments stood at 8,077. There were 31,302 full-time and 20,170 part-time students.
  
  
• Full-time undergraduate enrolments remained fairly constant between 1997/98 and 1998/99. Postgraduate enrolments decreased by 11%.
  
  
• In 1998/99, some 88% of students on Higher Education courses at Northern Ireland institutions were local, 8% were from the ROI, and 1% from GB.
  
  
• In 1998/99, 81% of first year full-time undergraduates (whose age was reported) at Northern Ireland institutions were aged under 21, and 8% were aged 25 and over, whereas of first year part-time undergraduate students 12% were aged under 21, and 71% were aged 25 and over. Of first year full-time postgraduates, 29% were aged 25 and over, compared with 88% of first year part-time postgraduates.
  
  
• The most popular subject areas among full-time undergraduate students at Northern Ireland institutions in 1998/99 were Business and Administrative Studies (17%), subjects allied to Medicine (12%) and Engineering and Technology (7%).