Expanding and improving part-time higher education

This report presents findings from research undertaken for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to explore whether part-time undergraduate study in England can be expanded as an alternative for young students (those aged 22 and under) to the full-time three- to four-year model of first degree undergraduate participation, and to better understand how undergraduate part-time students of all ages can be encouraged and supported with their studies. The research involved a range of qualitative and quantitative approaches including advice and guidance from a panel of experts, a critical review of recent research literature, statistical analyses of national student (and graduate) data, surveys of young potential higher education (HE) students, and 18 in-depth case studies with institutions providing part-time undergraduate HE. The case studies involved discussions with staff, current students, local employers and advisers in local schools and colleges. The case study institutions represented a spread of geography, mission group, tradition of part-time delivery and size, and included institutions in the further education (FE) and private sectors. The report draws together evidence captured from across these methodological strands to build a picture of the provision or supply of part-time HE and of the issues relating to the demand for part-time study set within a changing economic and policy context. It then considers the feasibility of expanding part-time provision and models of encouraging and supporting part-time study, and the policy implications for part-time study.

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