The most and least desirable undergraduate courses across the UK

Figures from HESA, as per 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 figured 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 5 most and least desired courses for female and male students 2016/2017. 

Overall the results for the United Kingdom are the following: 

The most desirable courses for female undergraduates in 2016-17 in the UK were those allied to medicine, with 136,215 students enrolled. Subjects allied to medicine was 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. 

When it comes to Wales, these are the most and least desired undergraduate courses: 

The most popular courses for female undergraduates in 2016-17 in Wales were biological sciences, with 7,440 students enrolled, follow by subjects allied to medicine, with 6,470 students enrolled. On the other hand, the least preferred course was agriculture & related subjects, with only 350 female students enrolled. 

The most popular courses for male first year undergraduate in Wales were engineering & 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 & related subjects, with 255 male students enrolled.  

The figured for Scotland for the most and least desired undergraduate courses were the following: 

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 & related subjects, with only 520 female students enrolled. 

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

Lastly, when it comes to figures from Northern Ireland, these are the most and least desired undergraduate courses: 

The most desirable courses for female undergraduates in 2016-17 in Northern Ireland were those allied to medicine, with 4,435 students enrolled. Subjects allied to medicine was 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 & administrative studies, with 2,660 enrolled in 2016/17. Contrastingly, the least popular course amongst male students was agriculture & related subjects, with only 160 students enrolled. 

Barinder Hothi, Managing Director of TheKnowledgeAcademy.com, has made the following statement about the findings:

‘It is pleasing to see that more and more pupils chose to continue their studies and enrol in higher education. The popularity of subjects allied to medicine could result in a positive impact in the lack of medical staff we are experiencing in the NHS. Likewise, business and administrative studies have continued to be as popular for men and women with perhaps shows like The apprentice and Dragons Den make being an entrepreneur a very desirable and potentially achievable career path.’ 

However, some believe the high number of students in medical related subjects won’t have any impact on the lack of personnel in the NHS:

‘I believe this will have little impact on the medical system as nurses are leaving the jobs quicker than they can be replaced due to poor funding, difficult working conditions, stress and lack of proper governmental input. Most people choose nursing because they are high in trait agreeableness and due to this want to help people.’ Charlotte, Nurse