Student equality, diversity and inclusion report 2019 Retention by disability

The student continuation gap by disability is the difference between the proportion of ‘non-disabled’ and ‘disabled’ students who continue, complete or transfer in higher education.

Continuation rates are similar for those who disclose a disability (89.1%) and those who do not (90.1%) amongst UK-domiciled full-time first-degree entrants. 8.4% of disabled students who entered HE in 2016-2017 were no longer in HE the following year, compared with 7.3% of non-disabled students (Advance HE).

Findings

The first-year continuation rate (FYCR) at St Andrews for both students who ‘disclose a disability’ (94.2%) and those who ‘do not disclose a disability’ (96.3%) is higher than the UK average (90.1%). The first-year continuation gap by disability at St Andrews was 2% for the academic year 2017-2018. The gap was slightly larger than the UK gap, although this difference represents small numbers of St Andrews students as the University’s retention rate is high overall.

Undergraduate first-degree continuation gap by disability

UK undergraduate continuation percentages 2016-2017

A bar graph showing that the continuation rates are similar for those who disclosed a disability and those who did not in the academic year 2016-2017.
A bar graph showing that the continuation rates are similar for those who disclosed a disability and those who did not in the academic year 2016-2017.
  • 89.1% of those who disclosed a disability continued, whilst 90.1% of those who did not disclose a disability continued. This is one percentage point difference.
  • Of those who disclosed a disability, 8.4% were no longer in HE in the academic year 2016-2017, whilst 7.3% of those who did not disclose a disability were no longer in higher education. This is one percentage point difference.

Percentage of students successfully completing degree or continuing at St Andrews

A bar graph showing the percentage of students who did and did not disclose a disability, who continued or completed their first undergraduate degree at St Andrews, between 2013-2014 and 2017-2018.
A bar graph showing the percentage of students who did and did not disclose a disability, who continued or completed their first undergraduate degree at St Andrews, between 2013-2014 and 2017-2018.
  • In the 2013-2014 academic year, 95.5% of those who disclosed a disability continued or completed their degree, whilst 96% of those who did not disclose a disability did so, this is a 0.5% retention gap.
  • In the 2014-2015 academic year, 94.2% of St Andrews students who disclosed a disability continued or qualified, versus 97.3% of those who did not disclose a disability. This is a 3.1 percentage point gap.
  • In the 2015-2016 academic year, 94.2% of those who disclosed a disability continued or qualified, whilst 96.7% of those who did not disclose a disability continued or qualified. This is a 2.5 percentage point retention gap.
  • In the 2016-2017 academic year, 92.6% of those who disclosed a disability continued or completed their degree, whilst 97.5% of those who did not disclose a disability continued or qualified. This is a 4.9 percentage point retention gap.
  • In the 2017-2018 academic year, 94.2% of those who disclosed a disability continued or completed their degree whilst 96.3% of those who did not disclose a disability continued or completed their degree. This is a 2.1 percentage point gap.
  • Over the last five years, those who did not disclose a disability were retained in higher percentages than those who disclosed a disability.