Dataset description: Ethnicity / Socio-economic classification

Note that this dataset is restricted to UK applicants and accepted applicants.

Variables:
Age (11 categories)(To 2001)
Age (4 categories (From 2002)
Ethnic group
Ethnic origin
Socio-economic (From 2002 to 2008)
Social class (To 2001)
Subject group

Data:
Applicants
Male
Female
Total
Accepted applicants:
Degree, Male
Degree, Female
Degree, Total
HND, Male
HND, Female
HND, Total
Total

From 2002 to 2008 entry, UCAS used the Standard Occupational Classification 2000, which replaced the Standard Occupational Classification 1990 used up to and including 2001 entry. UCAS assigns Socio-economic status based on an applicant's parental occupation (or the occupation of the person contributing the highest income to the household if the applicant is aged 21 years or over) and uses a simplified version of the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC) since UCAS does not collect employment status or size of organisation from applicants.

Provision of this information is voluntary and it is not passed to institutions until after the selection process. Socio-economic status (and Social class) data are only available for home (UK domiciled) applicants.

Applicants are classified according to the subject listed most frequently on the application form. For some subjects this creates the impression that there are more people accepted than applied. Acceptances are classified according to the subject of acceptance.

Applicants are asked to record their ethnic origin on the UCAS application form. Provision of this information is voluntary and it is not passed to institutions until after the selection process. Ethnicity is published in detail (Ethnic origin) or summarised into broad groupings (Ethnic group). Ethnicity data are only available for home (UK domiciled) applicants.

There have been a number of changes to the Ethnic origin classifications between 1996 and 2005 entry, including the division of White into British/Irish/Scottish/Other and the introduction of other groupings such as mixed and Chinese. Direct comparisons between the years are therefore not recommended.

For statistical purposes, Clearing accepts include those accepted through UCAS Extra and direct entrants, unless otherwise stated.

For statistical purposes, Degree includes Foundation degrees, unless otherwise stated.