The least popular undergraduate courses

Emma Finamore
08 May 2018

New data has also revealed the most popular courses, statistics for specific regions, and courses preferred by each gender.

Placeholder — The figures are from the report 'Higher Education Student Statistics: UK, 2016/17'.

New statistics have shown the least popular undergraduate courses in the UK, as well as the most popular courses, specific data for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and those preferred by each gender.

Figures from HESA, according to the report Higher Education Student Statistics: UK, 2016/17, show that the number of first year students taking first degrees has witnessed a continuing increase over the last five years. The number of first year undergraduate students in 2016/2017 was 548,415, which represents an 11% increase from 2012/2013 when there were 495,325 students enrolled.

As a result, Theknowledgeacademy.com, experts in training and further qualifications sought to find out which are the most and least popular first degree undergraduate courses in the UK, with separate figures for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Using data from HESA’s report HE student enrolments by subject of study and domicile, Theknowledgeacademy.com put together the top five most and least desired courses for female and male students 2016/2017.

The most desirable courses for female undergraduates in 2016-17 in the UK were those linked to medicine, with 136,215 students enrolled. These were followed by business and administrative studies, with 113,270 female students signed up. On the other end of the scale, the least enrolled-for course was veterinary science, with only 4,345 female students passionate about this subject.

The most popular courses chosen by male first year undergraduates in the UK were business and administrative related studies, with 119,515 enrolled students in 2016/17. The next most popular course for male students was engineering and technology, with 97,205 enrolled in 2016/17. Contrastingly, the least popular course amongst male students was again veterinary science, with only 1,110 students enrolled.

The most popular courses for male first year undergraduate in Wales were engineering and technology with 5,960 enrolled students, followed by biological sciences, with 5,515 enrolled students. On the other hand, the least preferred course was agriculture and related subjects, with 255 male students enrolled.

The most popular courses for female undergraduates in 2016-17 in Scotland were subjects allied to medicine, for which 15,735 students enrolled, follow by biological sciences (11,935). On the other hand, the least preferred course was agriculture and related subjects, with only 520 female students enrolled.

The most popular courses for male first year undergraduate in Scotland were engineering and technology with 12,190 enrolled students, followed by business and administrative studies, with 8,365 enrolled students. On the other hand, the least preferred course was agriculture and related subjects, with 200 male students enrolled.

The most desirable courses for female undergraduates in 2016-17 in Northern Ireland were those linked to medicine, with 4,435 students enrolled. These were followed by business and administrative studies, with 2,755 female students signed up. On the other end of the scale, the least enrolled for course was mathematical sciences, with only 215 female students passionate about this subject.

The most popular course chosen by male first year undergraduates in Northern Ireland was computer science, with 2,980 enrolled students in 2016/17. The next most popular course for male students was business and administrative studies, with 2,660 enrolled in 2016/17. Contrastingly, the least popular course amongst male students was agriculture and related subjects, with only 160 students enrolled.

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