Overview
In engineering, women were in the minority at just 16.5% of the workforce in 2021. Updated figures show this is now at just 15.7%. In fact, gender disparity is seen throughout all educational pathways into engineering.
This report explores how many more girls would need to study mathematics and/or physics at A level to increase the numbers of women studying engineering in higher education to the same level as men. We do this by exploring the conversion rates from A level to engineering and technology degrees for first year undergraduate students by gender, with the aim of estimating the additional numbers needed per year.
From A levels to engineering – exploring the gender gap in higher education
Who this is for
- Professional Engineering Institutions
- Employers
- Teachers
- Careers leads
- Researchers
- Policymakers
Key findings
- 18% of first year undergraduates in engineering and technology are women, compared to 57% across all subjects
- Engineering and technology is the top HE study subject for students studying both maths and physics at A level
- 23% of men who studied maths and/or physics went on to become engineering and tech undergraduates, compared to 8% of women
- 115,000 more girls would need to study maths and/or physics at A level to reach equality in undergraduates
