Information Compliance and Security Team
B16 Lenton Hurst
University of Nottingham
Ms Chloe Meley
University Park
Nottingham
NG7 2RD
3 February 2021
Reference: 395121
Dear Ms Meley
Freedom of Information Act 2000
I can confirm that the information requested is held by the University of Nottingham. I
have detailed below the information that is being released to you.
For the academic year 2020/21 to date, data indicates that proportionately fewer
students have withdrawn compared to previous years despite growth in the student
population in recent years.
The University of Nottingham has spent an additional £23 million to support students by
ensuring that more than 260 buildings are Covid-secure, establishing our own Covid
testing service where more than 20,000 tests have been conducted for our students
and delivering blended learning online and in-person.
These costs also include increased provision for student mental health, wellbeing and
financial hardship, providing additional spaces for students to study and socialise and
crediting students’ University accommodation accounts where they are unable to use
their hall rooms while studying from home.
In answer to your request:
Could you tell me the number of undergraduate students who have dropped out
this academic year (2020-2021, up until this December), compared to the two
previous academic years (2018-2019 and 2019-2020, for the whole year)?
Could you also break down this information into monthly categories (x number
of students dropped out in September); UK/EU/international students; and into
different faculties?
Attached is the information we can provide. Data has been split into August-December
and January-July withdrawals as splitting by month produced figures which were too
small to supply.
Where figures are less than 5 we do not specify the exact number as to do so would
greatly increase the likelihood of individuals being identified, which would breach data
protection regulations as these individuals have a reasonable expectation that their
personal data will not be released.
We recognise that from the information provided here alone, it would be difficult to
identify the individuals concerned. Nevertheless, under the remits of data protection
regulations, we note that personal data constitutes that from which the Data Controller
can identify an individual. Therefore, there may be other information which you could
obtain from the University, either through further Freedom of Information requests or
other means, that could be used to identify the individuals here. The risk of this is
greatly increased where numbers are less than 5 and it is for this reason that we do not
specify such small numbers of individuals. Should an individual be identified then the
University would be in breach of data protection regulations.
Please note the following in relation to this data:
• Total figures include all undergraduate students who started the academic year,
whether registered or not
• Withdrawals do not include students leaving for the reason of academic failure.
Please quote the reference number 395121 in any future communications.
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an
internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the
date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx
If you are still dissatisfied with the University’s response after the internal review you
have a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Telephone: 0330 123 1113
Email: xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx
I will now close your request as of this date.
Yours sincerely
Karen Page
Information Compliance Officer