Student number data

The Office for Students calculates student numbers for various regulatory purposes. These include setting OfS registration fees and assessing applications for degree awarding powers and university title.

We consulted on our approach to calculating student numbers in autumn 2018. View our response to the consultation.

This page contains technical information about the detailed method behind student number calculations. It is intended primarily for those who are familiar with the individualised student data we use, and who may be interested in understanding or recreating our calculations.

Methodology and technical information

Methodology

Calculating student numbers: Overview of method

PDF, 314Kb

The methodology we use to calculate student numbers for regulatory purposes.

2020-21: Technical information

The document below was updated on 16 February 2022.

Calculating 2020-21 student numbers: Technical document and rebuild instructions

PDF, 407Kb

The algorithms applied to the 2020-21 HESA Student record, HESA Student Alternative record and Individualised Learner Record (ILR) data, in order to determine a provider’s higher education and further education student numbers.

2019-20

Calculating 2019-20 student numbers: Overview of method

PDF, 370Kb

The methodology we use to calculate student numbers for regulatory purposes.

Calculating 2019-20 student numbers: Technical document and rebuild instructions

PDF, 497Kb

The algorithms applied to the 2019-20 Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record, HESA student alternative record and Individualised Learner Record (ILR) data, in order to determine a provider’s higher education and further education student numbers.

Technical document update

This technical document was updated in February 2021 to correct the conditions in the SNQUALHOURS, SNHESTULOADCASE and SNFESTULOADCASE algorithms.

The SNQUALHOURS algorithm has been updated to treat 0 the same as missing when using the raw data fields TOTAL QUALIFICATION TIME, MAXIMUM GUIDED LEARNING HOURS and TOTAL CREDITS to calculate the total hours a course is expected to take (SNQUALHOURS).

The SNHESTULOADCASE algorithm has been updated to include SNLEVEL = HE as a condition for the value 4.

The SNFESTULOADCASE algorithm has been updated to include SNLEVEL = FE as a condition for the value 5.

Methodology and technical documents from previous years can be found in our student numbers data and documentation archive.

Last updated 16 February 2022 + show all updates

16 February 2022: Update of 2020-21 technical document and rebuild instructions.
04 August 2021: Added overview of method and technical document for 2020-21.
10 February 2021: Technical document updated
24 September 2020: 2019-20 overview of method document published, and correction to 2018-19 technical document.
12 August 2020: 2019-20 technical document and rebuild instructions published.
12 February 2020: 2018-19 student numbers overview of method and technical document published. Document archive created.

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Student number data

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