UK universities enrolled 2,863,180 students in 2024/25, down 1% on the year before, against 246,930 academic staff. That puts the sector student-to-staff ratio near 11.8:1 — narrowing, not widening. This post covers what the class-size data shows on enrolment, staffing, degree outcomes, and student satisfaction.
UK University Class Sizes — TL;DR
The headline numbers point in one direction. Enrolments are falling while staff numbers rise, so the average class scale is easing at the sector level. Student satisfaction reached its highest recorded marks in 2025.
- Total HE enrolments fell to 2,863,180 in 2024/25, a second straight annual decline, per HESA.
- Academic staff rose 3% to 246,930 in 2023/24, pulling the student-to-staff ratio to about 11.8:1.
- 92.6% of students rated staff good at explaining things in NSS 2025, the survey’s top-scoring question.
- 30% of undergraduates earned first-class honours in 2024/25, roughly double the 2011/12 rate.
- Peer-reviewed research confirms smaller staff-student ratios track with higher NSS satisfaction.
HESA does not publish individual lecture or seminar sizes nationally. UK university class sizes are measured here through the student-to-academic-staff ratio and National Student Survey responses, set against verified degree-outcome data.
Are UK University Class Sizes Getting Bigger?
The total student count has dropped for two consecutive years. Enrolments peaked at 2,937,285 in 2022/23, then fell to 2,900,240 in 2023/24 and 2,863,180 in 2024/25. First-degree entrant enrolments rose 2% to 668,170, while postgraduate taught entrants fell 5%.
| Academic year | Total HE enrolments | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 2,747,200 | — |
| 2021/22 | 2,857,855 | +4% |
| 2022/23 | 2,937,285 | +3% |
| 2023/24 | 2,900,240 | -1% |
| 2024/25 | 2,863,180 | -1% |
Source: HESA Higher Education Student Statistics: UK, 2024/25 (SB273), 27 January 2026
UK University Class Sizes and the Student-to-Staff Ratio
Academic staff grew 3% to 246,930 in 2023/24, up from 240,420 in 2022/23. With students falling and staff rising, the calculated sector ratio sits near 11.8:1 in 2023/24, down from about 12.2:1 the prior year. The aggregate hides wide institutional variation: research-intensive universities run lower ratios than teaching-focused post-92 providers.
| Metric | Figure | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Academic staff employed | 246,930 | 2023/24 |
| Academic staff (prior year) | 240,420 | 2022/23 |
| Staff on fixed-term contracts | 29% | 2023/24 |
| Teaching and research function staff | 43% (105,630) | 2024/25 |
| Student-to-academic-staff ratio | ~11.8:1 | 2023/24 |
Source: HESA Higher Education Staff Statistics: UK, 2023/24 (SB270) and 2024/25 (SB274); ratio calculated from HESA figures
Do Bigger Class Sizes Affect Academic Performance?
First-class honours reached 30% of undergraduates in 2024/25. The figure stood near 15% in 2011/12, so the share has roughly doubled in 13 years. The 2:1 remains the most common result at about 50%, while 2:2 awards fell to 19% and thirds to 3%.
| Classification | Share (2024/25) | Long-run trend |
|---|---|---|
| First-class (1st) | 30% | Rising since 2011/12 |
| Upper second (2:1) | ~50% | Most common result |
| Lower second (2:2) | 19% | Falling |
| Third (3rd) | 3% | Lowest pass grade |
Source: Statista citing HESA degree classification data, 2025
The rise is not unique to universities. A-level A/A* awards climbed from 17.8% of entries in 2000 to 27.8% in 2024. GCSE top-grade entries rose from 8.4% in 1988 to 21.8% in 2024. The pattern points to a system-wide grading shift rather than a class-size effect at degree level.
| Qualification | Top-grade share (earlier) | Top-grade share (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| A-level A/A* | 17.8% (2000) | 27.8% |
| GCSE highest grade | 8.4% (1988) | 21.8% |
| University first-class | ~15% (2011/12) | 30% |
Source: Statista citing JCQ and Ofqual, 2024; HESA, 2024/25
First-Class Degrees by UK Nation
Scotland led the four nations in 2023/24 at 32% firsts. England recorded 29%, with Wales and Northern Ireland at 28% each. The Times Higher Education reported in April 2025 that some universities had begun awarding fewer firsts under grade-deflation pressure.
| Nation | First-class share (2023/24) |
|---|---|
| Scotland | 32% |
| England | 29% |
| Wales | 28% |
| Northern Ireland | 28% |
Source: HESA via Statista, 20 March 2025
UK University Class Sizes and Student Satisfaction
The NSS data does not show a deteriorating experience. Over 357,000 final-year students took part in 2025, a 71.5% response rate, and positivity improved across all areas versus 2024. The top-scoring question was staff explaining things, at 92.6%.
| NSS measure | Positive response | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Staff good at explaining things | 92.6% | 2025 |
| Learning resources theme | 87.9% | 2025 |
| Learning resources satisfaction | 87% | 2024 |
| Course quality satisfaction | 85% | 2024 |
| Happy with teaching on course | 85% | 2024 |
Source: Office for Students, Latest NSS Results 2025; Universities UK citing NSS 2024
Peer-reviewed research adds the clearest institutional evidence. A December 2024 study in Studies in Higher Education found smaller staff-student ratios track with more favourable NSS outcomes, and teaching-only contracts link to lower satisfaction at institutions with esteem uncertainty. Scale matters, but the sector’s recent movement is compressing the ratio, not widening it.
UK University Class Sizes: Key Figures at a Glance
The full dataset draws on HESA, the Office for Students, OECD, and peer-reviewed research. The table below collects the verified figures used above.
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total HE enrolments 2024/25 | 2,863,180 (-1%) | HESA SB273 |
| First-degree new entrants 2024/25 | 668,170 (+2%) | HESA SB273 |
| Postgraduate taught entrants 2024/25 | -5% (non-EU -10%) | HESA SB273 |
| Postgraduate research enrolments | +11% | HESA SB273 |
| Academic staff 2023/24 | 246,930 (+3%) | HESA SB270 |
| Student-to-staff ratio 2023/24 | ~11.8:1 | Calculated, HESA |
| NSS 2025 participants | 357,000 (71.5%) | Office for Students |
| Staff explaining things (NSS 2025) | 92.6% | Office for Students |
| First-class degrees 2024/25 | 30% | Statista citing HESA |
| UK primary class size 2023 | 26 (OECD avg 20.6) | OECD 2025 |
| UK 25-34 with master’s 2024 | 17% (OECD avg 16%) | OECD 2025 |
| Female share of HE students 2024/25 | 56% | HESA SB273 |
Source: HESA SB273/SB270/SB274; Office for Students NSS 2025; OECD Education at a Glance 2025; Studies in Higher Education, December 2024
FAQs
Are UK university class sizes getting bigger?
No. Enrolments fell to 2,863,180 in 2024/25 while academic staff rose 3% to 246,930, narrowing the sector student-to-staff ratio to about 11.8:1.
What is the UK university student-to-staff ratio?
The calculated sector ratio is roughly 11.8:1 in 2023/24, down from about 12.2:1 the prior year. Research-intensive universities run lower ratios than teaching-focused providers.
Do bigger class sizes lower degree grades?
The data shows the opposite trend. First-class honours rose to 30% in 2024/25 from about 15% in 2011/12, matching grade rises across A-levels and GCSEs rather than class-size effects.
Has student satisfaction fallen in 2025?
No. NSS 2025 satisfaction improved across all areas versus 2024. The top question, staff explaining things, scored 92.6% positive among 357,000 respondents.
Does class size affect student satisfaction?
Yes. A December 2024 study in Studies in Higher Education found smaller staff-student ratios track with more favourable NSS outcomes across UK institutions.
Sources
https://www.hesa.ac.uk/news/27-01-2026/sb273-higher-education-student-statistics
https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/for-students/understanding-students/national-student-survey/latest-nss-results/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03075079.2024.2438843
Floyd is a language learning writer at LingoBright who specializes in vocabulary, grammar, and practical communication tips. His articles focus on simplifying complex language concepts and helping learners build real-world language skills through clear explanations and proven learning strategies.