Continuation and transfer rates

Continuation rates

‘Continuation’ refers to any of the following outcomes for a student one year and 14 days after they have started their studies:

• Continued – continued studies at the same higher education provider.
• Qualified – received a higher education qualification.
• Transferred – continued studies but at a different higher education provider.

The ‘Continuation’ page allows the user to explore how continuation has changed between 2010-11 and 2016-17 and how continuation varies by the following characteristics:

• Age at entry (broad)
• Age at entry (detailed)
• Disability (broad)
• Disability (detailed)
• Domicile location
• Educational disadvantage (POLAR4)
• Entry qualifications (broad level 3)
• Ethnicity
• Index of multiple deprivation (IMD)
• Provider group
• Sex
• Subject of study

The methodology document defines these characteristics in detail.

We have published benchmarked time series data alongside the continuation rates for these different characteristics. For more about benchmarking, see the methodology document.

We have also published charts that allow the user to explore continuation by two student characteristics simultaneously for the academic year 2016-17.

Continuation rates are presented for all undergraduate qualifications. But the charts allow users to subdivide these rates by degrees and other (non-degree) undergraduate qualifications.

Continuation, non-continuation and transfer rates

The charts found on the ‘Continuation (excluding transfers), non-continuation and transfer rates’ page are the same as those in the ‘Continuation’ page, except it is also possible to select from the following three measures of continuation:

• Continuation rate (excluding transfers) – the proportion of students that continue their studies or qualify.
• Non-continuation rate – the proportion of students who are no longer in higher education and did not complete their undergraduate qualification.
• Transfer rates – the proportion of students that continue in higher education but at a different higher education provider.

Other than this categorisation of continuation, these charts and the methods involved are the same as charts on the ‘Continuation’ page.

Methodology

The methodology document explains the methods used to calculate these rates and the associated benchmarks and describes the student population investigated.

Read the methodology document

Contact us

If you have any questions or feedback on these pages, please contact William Rimington at [email protected] or the Foresight and Insight team at [email protected]