Further Education Sector Activity in Northern Ireland: 2019/20 to 2023/24

Date published: 12 December 2024

This statistical bulletin presents a range of analysis regarding enrolments and students (both regulated and non-regulated) in the Northern Ireland further fducation (FE) sector, covering academic years 2019/20 to 2023/24. This analysis covers the characteristics of those enrolling in FE colleges across a range of variables, including: sex; age; mode of attendance; level of study; subject area; deprivation; funding stream; higher education; and performance (retention, achievement and success rates).

Key points include:

All enrolments

• Following a 26% decrease between 2019/20 (132,355) and the pandemic-impacted 2020/21 (97,530), the number of enrolments increased 20% over the next two years, before falling 5% to 111,355 in 2023/24; resulting in a net 16% decrease since 2019/20.
• Over the period 2019/20 to 2023/24 the regulated share of enrolments has not changed in net terms (81%).
• Almost half of 2023/24 enrolments were mainstream funded by the Department for the Economy.

Regulated enrolments

• Of the 90,505 regulated enrolments in 2023/24, 82% were at Level 2 or above, up from 79% in 2019/20 (equivalent to GCSE A*-C) or above.
• The student population on regulated enrolments is becoming older, with the aged 25 and over share increasing in net terms from 24% in 2019/20 to 27% in 2023/24.
• Higher education enrolments fell by a net 7%, from 10,325 in 2019/20 to 9,645 in 2023/24.
• FE sector regulated enrolments are fairly evenly spread across the four most deprived relative multiple deprivation quintiles, although considerable variation occurs at college level.

Qualifications

• 15% fewer qualifications were awarded in 2023/24 (55,800) than in 2019/20 (65,660).

Students

• Following a 21% decrease between 2019/20 (70,845) and 2020/21 (55,970), the number of students increased 14% over the next two years, to 64,025 in 2022/23, before falling 1% to 63,535 in 2023/24.
• The number of students achieving regulated qualifications decreased by a net 9%, from 39,575 in 2019/20 to 35,935 in 2023/24.

The full publication, including associated tables and documents, is available on the DfE website.