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  • Higher education

    Information and advice on higher education including policy and strategy, finance governance, student finance and research policy.

    contents

    Higher education finance and student support

    • Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme for the Academic Year 2025/26
    • Higher education finance and governance
    • Higher education student support

    Higher Education Research and Knowledge Exchange

    • Higher Education Research and Knowledge Exchange
    • Higher Education Quality-related Research (QR) funding
    • Higher Education Research Excellence Framework (REF)

    Higher education policy and strategy

    • Ulster University Magee Taskforce
    • Higher education mobility
    • Higher education strategies for Northern Ireland

    DfE's role in higher education

    • Higher education quality assurance
    • Higher education division

    Higher education widening participation

    In September 2012 the Minister launched Access to Success, the strategy for widening participation in higher education.

    Higher Level Apprenticeships in Northern Ireland at FE colleges and CAFRE bulletins

    The Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA) bulletins cover analysis of the HLA programmes delivered at Northern Ireland Further Education (FE) colleges and College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). Delivery of HLAs at FE colleges in Northern Ireland began in 2017/18.

    Quality of higher education statistics

    This page includes information on the collection, validation and quality assurance of higher education (HE) data and statistics, and the quality guidance used in managing the production of HE statistics.

    Appointments to the governing body of St Mary’s University College Belfast - Pen Pictures

    Appointments to the governing body of St Mary’s University College Belfast.

    Higher education qualifications

    The statistical bulletins below are produced by the Department using data collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

    The Period Products (Free Provision) Act (NI) 2022 – Location of Free Period Products

    Under the Period Products (Free Provision) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, specified public service bodies of the Department for the Economy have a statutory duty to provide period products free of charge on their premises from 12 May 2024. The following list provides locations of such products, which is a requirement under Article 7 of the Act.

    Higher education statistical fact sheets

    The fact sheets below provide a more detailed Northern Ireland analysis of 2022/23 data on several topics of interest in Higher Education (HE), including the Higher Education Age Participation Index, enrolments by Equality categories and First Degree and Postgraduate students with Narrow STEM qualifications gained at NI HEIs. Additional information is also available on a number of other fact sheets relating mainly to earlier time series.

    Related to Higher education

    Most recent publications

    • Student Fees (Amounts)(Amendments) - Increasing the basic and higher amounts of tuition fees that may be charged to full-time undergraduates in respect of an academic year beginning on or after 1st September 2025

      Published 2 July 2025
    • Addition of a Termination provision for the long residence category for students, applicable from AY 25/26

      Published 2 July 2025
    See all publications in this topic

    Most recent consultations

    • Proposal to integrate additional disability support within DfE training programmes at Entry Level and Level 1

      Published 19 July 2024 Consultation closed
    • Level 4 and level 5 and higher education in further education (HE in FE)

      Published 15 December 2022 Consultation closed
    See all consultations in this topic

    Most recent news items

    • Archibald announces new proposals to support school leavers with special educational needs

      Published 16 June 2025
    • Archibald launches Green Skills Action Plan

      Published 29 May 2025
    See all news in this topic

    Access to information

    How to request information from the Department for the Economy including Freedom of Information (FOI) and the use of our Publication Scheme.

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