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Making HESA returns

What are HESA returns?

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects five main data sets:


  • student
  • destinations of leavers from higher education
  • staff
  • finance
  • non-credit-bearing Course Records.

UCAS provides data to assist higher education institutions (HEIs) in their Student Record return to HESA. This is provided to HEIs through UCAS Data for HESA Transaction (previously known as *J transaction).

HESA data are collected from the HEIs and represent student enrolments; the data which are provided by UCAS relates to the final number of students who have accepted a course offer, but does not track whether the student actually enrolled or changed course or institution.

What is the Student Record?

The Student Record contains over 150 pieces of information for each student currently studying a course that leads to a qualification or credit at a higher education institution.

The data contain information on the subject of study chosen, entry qualification and student characteristics.

The data are collected for all students who are (or were) actively following a programme of study at some time during the reporting period (1 August - 31 July).

The final submission is made to HESA in November every year.

The Student Record Data are used by HESA to:

  • produce a range of annual publications presenting data both in detail and at a more general level

  • complete statistical analysis to inform policy development in the higher education sector as well as future development of the HESA database and use of the data elsewhere.

The Student Record Data are used by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in various formats to:

  • verify the HESES return (HESES is recreated using HESA data).
  • generate indicators and benchmarks of performance in the higher education sector relating to


    • participation of under-represented groups
    • student progression
    • learning outcomes (including non-completion)
    • efficiency of learning and teaching
    • student employment
    • research output
    • higher education links with industry.

The Student Record Data are also used by other organisations in:

  • newspaper league tables and online league tables
  • guides to higher education, helping prospective students choose which university to apply to
  • quality assurance, for example by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA).

History

HESA was setup in 1993 following a Government White Paper 'Higher Education: A New Framework', which called for more coherence in higher education statistics.

HESA is now the central source for higher education statistics and has standardised and streamlined the data collection and publication process to become a respected point of reference.

Useful documents

If you require any assistance or information in regards to the 2011 entry return, please refer to the HESA website where you will find information on the 2011/12 Student Return.

If you require any assistance or information in regards to the 2010 entry return, please refer to the HESA website where you will find information on the 2010/11 Student Return


Further information

For further information about HESA and the student record return, you may find it beneficial to visit the HESA website.