According to the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap 2024 Report, 23.5% of UK graduates in engineering, manufacturing, and construction were women. According to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in the United Kingdom (UK), women make up a smaller proportion of students enrolled in, entering and graduating in engineering tertiary programs when compared to men in the UK.
HESA
According to the HESA, the number of women enrolled in engineering and technology undergraduate programs in the UK has experienced slight increases between 2015 and 2024. The share of women enrolled in undergraduate programs increased from 14.5% in 2015 to 19.8% in 2024.
*Females as a percent of total shown in figure
According to the HESA, the number of women enrolled in engineering and technology postgraduate programs in the UK has experienced increases between 2015 (9,335) and 2024 (13,630). The share of women enrolled in postgraduate programs increased from 23.5% in 2015 to 27.1% in 2024.
*Females as a percent of total shown in figure
According to the HESA, the number of women entrants in engineering and technology first degree programs in the UK has experienced slight increases between 2015 (5,410) and 2024 (7,630). The share of women entering engineering and technology programs increased from 15.1% in 2015 to 20.0% in 2024.
*Females as a percent of total shown in figure
The number of degrees awarded in engineering and technology undergraduate programs to women has increased between 2015 (4,425) and 2024 (6,495). The proportion of engineering and technology degrees awarded to women has also increased from 2015 (13.9%) to 2024 (19.3%).
*Females as a percent of total shown in figure
The number of degrees awarded in engineering and technology postgraduate programs to women has increased between 2015 (4,570) and 2024 (8,410). The proportion of engineering and technology degrees awarded to women has also increased from 2015 (24.6%) to 2024 (26.7%).
*Females as a percent of total shown in figure
OECD
According to the OECD, the number of women enrolled in EMC programs in the UK has experienced slight fluctuations between 2018 and 2022. For instance, the number of women enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in EMC increased by 2.7 percent between 2018 (21.0%) and 2022 (23.7%). In 2022 (30.9%), a lower share of women enrolled in master’s programs than in 2018 (32.4%). A higher share of women enrolled in doctoral programs in 2022 (30.3%) compared to 2018 (27.5%).
The number of women enrolling in EMC undergraduate programs has experienced a steady increase between 2018 (31,575) and 2022 (42,928). The number of women entrants in EMC bachelor’s programs has experienced an increase between 2018 (10,205) and 2022 (12,617). The number of women graduating has also increased between 2018 (7,417) and 2022 (9,754). In 2022, 24% of enrollments, 23% of entrants, and 24% of graduates in EMC bachelor’s programs were women.
*Females as a percent of total shown in figure
The number of female enrollments, entrants, and graduates in EMC master’s programs has increased between 2018 and 2022. The number of women enrolling in EMC master’s programs has increased between 2018 (12,502) and 2022 (18,453). In 2022, 31% of enrollments, 31% of entrants, and 33% of graduates in EMC master’s programs were women.
*Females as a percent of total shown in figure
Between 2018 (4,383) and 2022 (4,897), the number of women enrolling in EMC doctoral programs increased. The number of women graduating and female entrants in EMC doctoral programs have experienced slight changes between 2018 and 2022. In 2022, 30% of enrollments, 32% of entrants, and 30% of graduates in EMC doctoral programs were women.
*Females as a percent of total shown in figure
Resources
- HESA. (2024). HE Student Data.
- OECD Data Explorer. (2024). Graduates by field.
- The World Economic Forum. (2024). Global Gender Gap Report.