---
title: Discipline Deep Dive - UK Science & Engineering PGR
description: We investigate the current size and shape of UK PGR Science & Engineering audiences based on thousands of data points drawn from actively searching audiences across our platforms.
---

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# [Discipline Deep Dive - UK Science & Engineering PGR ](https://info.findauniversity.com/blog/comment/11953/discipline-deep-dive-uk-science-and-engineering-pgr)

 Written by [Jack Surtees](https://info.findauniversity.com/blog/author/jack-surtees) | Nov 26, 2024 9:00:00 AM

Discipline Deep Dive - UK Science & Engineering PGR

# Discipline Deep Dive - UK Science & Engineering PGR

 

- Science & Engineering is by far the most popular discipline area for UK PGR.
- International interest is growing, most notably from North American audiences.
- There is a greater level of female interest than we see progress to enrolments.
- Cancer Biology is now the most popular area of research.

 

 

In our [PGT deep dive](https://www.findauniversity.com/comment/11952/discipline-deep-dive-uk-science-and-engineering-pgt), we found that Science & Engineering was the most popular discipline area *and* experiencing strong growth from all audiences. At PGR level, it holds only one of those distinctions.

Recently released [HESA data](https://www.findauniversity.com/common/clickCount.aspx?theid=11953&type=0&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hesa.ac.uk%2fnews%2f08-08-2024%2fsb269-higher-education-student-statistics%2flocation) shows that Science & Engineering is by far the most popular area of UK research. In 22/23, Science & Engineering accounted for 35% of all doctoral enrolments in the UK, almost double the next most popular discipline area (Arts & Humanities with 18%). This is, however, 2% down on the share of enrolments that it had in the 18/19 academic year, and that is not a one-off, there has been a subtle but consistent trend away from Science & Engineering over those 5 years.

Our [Share of Search](https://www.findauniversity.com/comment/8735/understanding-postgraduate-audiences-pulse-and-share-of-search) data from Q3 2024, however, appears to show that that trend away from Science & Engineering may have finished.

 

Made with Flourish •  [Create a chart](https://flourish.studio/visualisations/line-bar-pie-charts/?utm_source=showcase&utm_campaign=visualisation/20433884)

 

 

 

Overall, interest in Science & Engineering has not grown nor fallen in the past 12 months, but that stability varies between audiences. Domestic interest is still falling (-3%) but international audiences saw steady year-on-year growth during Q3 (+2%).

With all that said, it is worth noting that these trends are (and have been) relatively negligible, that Science & Engineering still has by far the largest [Share of Search](https://www.findauniversity.com/comment/8735/understanding-postgraduate-audiences-pulse-and-share-of-search) of any discipline in UK PGR, and that we’re unlikely to see a major shift in the PhD landscape anytime soon.

 

 

## The international audience

With international interest in UK postgraduate study having been [in flux](https://www.findauniversity.com/comment/11634/where-are-international-audiences-going-and-why) in recent months, it’s worth delving into the make-up of each audience to begin to understand how they might be affected.

 

Like we produced in the [Science & Engineering PGT deep dive](https://www.findauniversity.com/comment/11952/discipline-deep-dive-uk-science-and-engineering-pgt), below we have a chart comparing the [Share of Search](https://www.findauniversity.com/comment/8735/understanding-postgraduate-audiences-pulse-and-share-of-search) from each Science & Engineering audience to the audiences for all UK PGR.

 

 

Made with Flourish •  [Create a chart](https://flourish.studio/visualisations/line-bar-pie-charts/?utm_source=showcase&utm_campaign=visualisation/20434424)

 

 

 

The main things to note are that:

- Asia is the largest audience and accounts for 46% of all UK PGR searches but only 42% of all Science & Engineering searches.
- Similarly, African [Share of Search](https://www.findauniversity.com/comment/8735/understanding-postgraduate-audiences-pulse-and-share-of-search) for Science & Engineering courses is 3 percentage points (pp) less than their [Share of Search](https://www.findauniversity.com/comment/8735/understanding-postgraduate-audiences-pulse-and-share-of-search) for all UK PGR.
- North American audiences (+6pp) and European audiences (+1pp) account for a larger proportion of total Science & Engineering searches.

 

But what does this mean for the sustainability of its audience?

 

In recent months, we’ve seen a trend of various traditionally popular research destinations imposing restrictive policies for international students. That has seen some audiences – most notably Asian and African – start to [more seriously consider Europe and China as PhD study destinations](https://www.findauniversity.com/comment/11634/where-are-international-audiences-going-and-why). But how has this affected the Science & Engineering field in the UK?

 

Made with Flourish •  [Create a chart](https://flourish.studio/visualisations/line-bar-pie-charts/?utm_source=showcase&utm_campaign=visualisation/20435149)

 

 

 

In Q3, we saw Asian (-7pp) and African (-4pp) interest in UK PGR down year-on-year – effectively meaning that these audiences are becoming slightly more likely to seek PhDs outside of the UK.

Their interest in Science & Engineering, however, is seeing a much more positive trend with both of these audiences seeing a rise in interest for UK study (+2pp and +1pp respectively). Similarly, interest from Europe (+3pp) and North America (+18pp) is also growing for UK Science & Engineering, suggesting that the UK’s reputation for STEM research is standing it in good stead despite recent policymaking.

 

 

## Who wants to study Science & Engineering?

So, we know that the international audience is healthy, but who exactly are they – and their domestic counterparts – and what are they looking for?

 

 

### **Age ranges**

The first thing to note is that the Science & Engineering audience is relatively young compared to that of all UK PGR.

 

The average age of the Science & Engineering audiences is around 4 years younger than that of the audience for all UK PGR. This difference is slightly more pronounced for prospective domestic students (around 7 years) than internationals (around 3 years), and the age brackets vary quite drastically between each audience.

 

 

Made with Flourish •  [Create a chart](https://flourish.studio/visualisations/line-bar-pie-charts/?utm_source=showcase&utm_campaign=visualisation/20470789)

 

The largest proportion of the Science & Engineering audience are those aged 25-34 (48%) though it is worth noting that around 25% are aged under 25.

 

The international audience follows this pattern closely, with those aged under 35 accounting for the vast majority of interest and minimal interest from those aged 45+. Domestic audiences, however, see a much more even split of interest across all age ranges, with the largest proportion being those aged under 25 (40%) and a similar proportion aged 35+ (37%).

 

 

### **Gender splits**

The [HESA data](https://www.findauniversity.com/common/clickCount.aspx?theid=11953&type=0&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hesa.ac.uk%2fdata-and-analysis%2fstudents%2fwhos-in-he) that we referenced in the introduction also revealed that enrolments have been moving towards a more even gender split. During the 2018/19 academic year, only 37% of Science & Engineering enrolments were female. By 2022/23 that was up to 40%.

But [Pulse data](https://www.findauniversity.com/comment/8735/understanding-postgraduate-audiences-pulse-and-share-of-search) suggests that there is still a way to go before the percentage of female enrolments matches the percentage of female interest. In Q3 2024, those interested in Science & Engineering were slightly more likely to be female (51%). That was true for both domestic and international audiences.

[As we found with PGT](https://www.findauniversity.com/comment/11952/discipline-deep-dive-uk-science-and-engineering-pgt), it therefore appears that there is a significant section of the Science & Engineering audience that are not progressing through from initial interest to enrolment. A section that could yet be tapped into.

 

 

### **Delivery, motivations and concerns**

 

Unsurprisingly (given the equipment often required), the Science & Engineering audience are 14pp more likely to seek on campus opportunities than the audience for all UK PGR. They are also 8pp more likely to seek full-time research.

 

They are slightly more likely to list Career progress (+3pp) and Subject interest (+3pp) interest as motivations while being less likely to see Challenge as a motivating factor (-5pp). In terms of concerns, they are more likely to list Confidence (+5pp) as a detractor.

 

 

## Subject watch

The most popular specialisms have changed quite a bit in the last 12 months.

 

 

Made with Flourish •  [Create a chart](https://flourish.studio/visualisations/line-bar-pie-charts/?utm_source=showcase&utm_campaign=visualisation/20472017)

 

 

 

In Q3 2023, Microbiology was top of the pile but a notable fall in interest sees it sit 5th this year. Instead, Cancer Biology takes the top spot, followed by Neuroscience, Mechanical Engineering, and Molecular Biology.

The [Share of Search](https://www.findauniversity.com/comment/8735/understanding-postgraduate-audiences-pulse-and-share-of-search) drops a little after these top 5 specialisms, though we have seen significant growth for two further Engineering specialisms, Biological and Electrical. Conversely, the aforementioned Microbiology sees the largest year-on-year fall, with interest dropping by a third.

 

 

## Anything missing?

This page is intended to be a snapshot of the current size and shape of UK PGR Science & Engineering audiences based on [thousands of data points](https://www.findauniversity.com/comment/8735/understanding-postgraduate-audiences-pulse-and-share-of-search) drawn from actively searching audiences across our platforms. If there's something else you think it should cover, something that isn't clear or something you have a question about, please let us know.

 

 

 

[View full post](https://info.findauniversity.com/blog/comment/11953/discipline-deep-dive-uk-science-and-engineering-pgr)

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