New report shows benefits of part-time university study 19 September 2011

A new report published on 12 September by academics from Birkbeck, University of London, the Institute of Education and the National Institute for Economic and Social Research shows that part-time study is a key driver of social mobility.

The researchers examined the impact of part-time and full-time study at six months and at three and a half years after graduation and found that part-time students who started a university qualification without A-levels or traditional qualifications saw significant employment advantages over those who entered full-time higher education with the same qualification level. This was also true for students who re-skilled through university study, to develop skills in a new area.

The report authors also point out that it is not only the students who benefitted financially from their new qualifications, but that their employers and the wider economy also saw benefits. In the three and a half years after graduation, part-time students' contribution to economic prosperity, particularly in relation to earnings, exceeds that of graduates from full-time study.

The report, which was commissioned by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, will be used to inform policy development in higher education. It shows that part-time higher education plays a significant role in raising, updating and improving the skills level of people already in employment, and ensures they possess the skills and qualifications required by employers. It helps to widen participation in higher education to those groups who are traditionally underrepresented, and to increase the social mobility of those with low-level skills.  The Coalition Government has stated its commitment to social mobility and widening participation in higher education and has already stated its intention to create a more level playing field for part-time students by making student loans available, to cover the costs of tuition fees, from 2012.

Claire Callender, Professor of Higher Education Studies and co-author of the report said: "The findings of our research validate the Coalition’s decision to extend student loans to part-time students, and show that by supporting the part-time sector, which represents 40% of undergraduate students in the UK, the Coalition can make a significant contribution to achieving its stated goal of improving social mobility."