More women than ever studying computing

Data from BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, has found that the gap between women and men opting for computer-related degrees is the smallest it has ever been, with female students closing the gap on men. 

In 2024, a record of 6,310 UK women started computing degrees at UK universities, which is a growing sector out of 32,710 total UK-based entrants for computer-related degrees. For every woman studying computing, there is now 4.1 young men, which is down from 4.2 in 2023.

This is a huge difference to previous years, with 5.5 18-year-old UK men to women studying computing in 2019, suggesting a wider trend towards more women selecting undergraduate computing degrees, BCS finds from an analysis of data from UCAS.

Numbers of those taking computing degrees in the UK rose by seven per cent in 2024, which is in comparison to a three per cent overall rise for all subjects.

The BCS also recorded further data about the kind of students choosing computing degrees. Data found that 49 per cent of those studying computing came from the two least advantaged socioeconomic groups, which is in comparison for 42 per cent of all degrees. This implies computing degrees are contributing to social mobility.

Students starting computing students in the UK are ethically diverse. In comparison with only 32 per cent of high education identifying as Black, Asian, or Mixed-race, the latest cohort for computing is comprised of 24 per cent Asian, 14 per cent Black, and six per cent Mixed-race students.

22 per cent of computing students declared a disability or mental health condition, in line with the total student population, and 84 per cent of all computing students are at English universities, which is in line with other subjects. In comparison with other subjects, numbers are growing in England and Scotland (six per cent and eight per cent respectively), while there are declines in Northern Ireland and Wales (by eight per cent and three per cent).

The percentage of EU students accepted onto computer-related sources remains (as in 2023-24) at one per cent, below the overall rate of two per cent for all degrees. Non-EU numbers have fallen more steeply (13.6 per cent) than for the UK higher education overall (-2 per cent).

Julia Adamson MBE, MD for Education and Public Benefit at BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT said: “A computing degree gives young people influence over the way the world will develop and the direction society will take. They’ve grown up seeing how technology shapes the future of industry, politics, communications, social life and work and they want a way in.
 
“I’m excited that young women are using computing to seize their future in greater numbers. But we need this to accelerate rapidly because it is vital the UK has diverse teams working in areas like AI to make sure its decisions and outcomes are good for everyone.”