Introduction

What are the Student Diversity Data?

Student diversity data tracks demographics like gender, age, ethnicity, disability, and socioeconomic status to understand educational diversity and equity. The key sources are national statistics offices (such as the CSO in Ireland) and higher education authorities (such as the Higher Education Authority), which publish profiles that show trends in participation, fields of study, and geographic backgrounds, highlighting areas for improvement in inclusion and access.

This data helps institutions design targeted support and assess policy impacts, revealing differences in access for disadvantaged or disabled students compared to the average population. 

UCC Student Data

UCC student data involves personal details, academic records (registration, modules, marks, exams), and research data, all managed under GDPR with access via portals like MyStudentAdmin for personal updates (address, contacts) and official records/results. UCC shares some info with the HEA for specific reasons and protects privacy, but students must keep records accurate through the student portal or Student Record and Examination Office, while the UCC Data Hub provides institutional data reports. 

Student diversity data is available from:

• UCC Student Fact Book
• UCC Athena Swan Gender Analytics
• Equal Access Survey Results outlining national statistics (including UCC's) of student ethnic background, access routes, disability statistics and so on are available from the Higher Education Authority website.

Registered UCC students can avail of the Gender Identity Expression Policy should they wish to change their central records with regards to preferred gender and/or name.

National Student Data

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is the statutory body in Ireland responsible for the strategic planning, governance, regulation, and funding of the higher education and research system. HEA collects data from all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) funded by it to understand student demographics (e.g., overall headcount by gender, disadvantaged vs. affluent, postgraduate vs. undergraduate), track completion rates, and implement policies for a more inclusive system.  focusing on their access, socio-economic backgrounds (using Deprivation Index Scores - DIS), progression, and engagement, with initiatives like the HEAR scheme and Student Assistance Fund aimed at ensuring equitable access and success for diverse learners.

Demographical information on the student population (e.g., by gender, field of study, age group, geography), information on the socio-economic background of students, whether students progress into their second year of study, and whether students complete their studies is available from the Students Statistics website (follow the link below). 

Central Statistics Office (CSO) provides provides extensive data on education in Ireland, covering everything from primary school enrollment to third-level attainment and graduate outcomes in the labour force (follow the link below). 

Student Data in Europe