The latest UCAS data shows that this year, 2,940 UK-domiciled 18-year-old women accepted a place to study the subject, an 8% rise compared to the 2023/24 academic year. Overall, there were 15,530 UK-domiciled 18-year-old students accepted into computing degree programmes.
The gender gap in computing is gradually narrowing, with the male-to-female ratio now falling below 4:1. However, BCS points out that a considerable gap remains, and there is still much work to be done to achieve gender equality in the tech industry.
A level computing entries rose by 12%, with women outperforming men and the gender ratio improving. Northern Ireland saw digital subject growth, while Wales remained steady. England's T level digital pathway passes rose by over 40%.
BCS Managing Director for Education and Public Benefit, Julia Adamson MBE said, “More young people are recognising that this qualification can lead to a range of exciting careers – roles that can potentially help tackle some of the hugely important issues that impact our society such as AI, climate change and cyber security.
It’s fantastic that the overall numbers of people taking computer science is increasing, but there remains a huge demand for more skilled people to meet the needs of our digital future. The growth in the numbers and the diversity of qualified technologists needs to continue to accelerate - not only to help close the gender gap, but also to meet future needs of the UK economy.
At schools and colleges, we are seeing a more diverse range of pathways in computing and digital skills appearing. These will contribute to steps being taken to ensure an increasing number of diverse entrants to the computing professions and help to draw more people towards digitally focused study in both higher education and progression to the workforce.”
