The proportion of women studying computing degrees in the UK has risen to 25 per cent for the first time, according to new analysis of Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data by online lab-hosting platform Go Deploy.
The study, which examined gender representation across five years of IT, engineering and technology degrees, highlights slow but steady progress in efforts to diversify the UK’s tech talent pipeline. Yet the figures also underline how far the sector still has to go: men continue to dominate both education pathways and the workforce, with 70.4 per cent of Information and Communication roles currently held by male employees.
Women’s representation in computing degrees rises from 20% to 25% in five years
The research shows a consistent upward trend:
• In 2019/20, women made up 19.9% of all computing students
• By 2023/24, that figure had climbed to 25.3%, with 48,415 women enrolled
Total student numbers increased across the period, but the growth in female participation outpaced that of male students.
Progress is also visible at undergraduate level. Women now make up:
• 19.8% of engineering and technology undergraduates (up from 18.2% in 2019/20)
• 21.1% of computing undergraduates (up from 17.1% over the same period)
These changes remain small but encouraging indicators of cultural and structural shifts within university programmes.
Workforce still heavily male-dominated
Despite educational improvements, the UK’s tech workforce remains far from gender-balanced. ONS data shows that over 70% of jobs in Information and Communication are held by men — a ratio largely unchanged over the past five years.
Go Deploy warns that without accelerating progress in early education, the industry risks perpetuating an entrenched talent divide.
‘Start early, show role models, build community’: insights from a female Computer Science student
Go Deploy spoke to Aurelia Brzezowska, a BSc Computer Science student at Staffordshire University, who said that despite improvements, female students still feel heavily outnumbered.
“I’d estimate the female-to-male split on my course is around 1:9,” she said. “That can make you feel like a minority.”
Brzezowska believes change needs to begin much earlier than university.
“To increase female uptake, we need to start early. Show more female role models and teachers in primary and secondary school. Build clubs and communities that support minorities. Higher education can’t make up for everything.”
She added that targeted programmes, scholarships and partnerships with Women in Tech organisations could make a substantial difference.
“I wouldn’t have stayed in my pathway if certain lecturers hadn’t encouraged me to be the change I want to see.”
Go Deploy’s analysis reveals that representation is improving, but slowly. The organisation says more systemic intervention is needed across schools, universities and employers, especially as the UK continues to face critical digital skills shortages.
