DfE data show surge in higher level learner numbers

Government data show increase in England-based master’s and doctorate students

The number of domestic students studying master’s or equivalent qualifications at English universities has increased rapidly, data published by the Department for Education show.

According to the statistics, which show how many England-domiciled learners were in education at level 4 or above in 2020-21, there was a 22 per cent year increase in the number starting a level 7 course (equivalent to a master’s degree) between 2019-20 and 2020-21. Almost 240,000 England-based learners started such courses last year.