This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Undergraduate drop out rates'.


 
 
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students have withdrawn compared to previous years despite growth in the student 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