UK leads G7 on higher education progress, OECD report shows

The UK has recorded the fastest growth in higher education attainment among G7 nations, according to new data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The Education at a Glance 2025 report, shows that nearly 60% of UK adults aged 25–34 now hold a tertiary qualification, compared with an OECD average of 48%. Between 2019 and 2024, the UK figure rose by 8 percentage points – the largest increase in the G7, matched only by the United States.

The study highlights strong outcomes on completion, employment and earnings. Around 80% of UK bachelor’s students graduate within the expected timeframe or soon after, compared with the OECD average of 59%. In 2024, 90% of tertiary-educated adults in the UK were in work and just 2.3% unemployed – among the lowest jobless rates across member countries.

The report also notes widening participation. In England, attainment among young adults from families without upper-secondary education increased from 25% in 2012 to 37% in 2024 – one of the strongest improvements across the OECD.

However, the OECD found uneven levels of investment. Overall spending per student was the third highest in the OECD in 2022, at USD 35,350, but public funding per student was USD 7,895 – 48% below the OECD average and the lowest among the G7.

The UK remains the world’s second most popular destination for international students, behind the US. Alongside the US, Australia, Germany and Canada, it accounts for almost two-thirds of all students studying abroad.

Rosalind Gill, director of policy, analysis and external affairs at the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB), said: “Nearly 60% of young adults in the UK now hold a higher education qualification — well above the OECD average. England, in particular, has made strong progress in widening access, with attainment among those from less educated families rising by 12% since 2012.”

She added: “Our completion rates are among the best globally, with around 80% of bachelor’s students graduating within the expected time frame or shortly after. Employment prospects are also strong. These figures show that the UK has not only widened access to higher education but also delivered consistently strong outcomes.”

Gill warned, however, that changes to student visa rules could undermine progress. She said: “Proposed changes in the Immigration Bill, including further restrictions on Graduate Visas, risk weakening the UK’s ability to attract international students and global talent.”