LSST First Degree Continuation Rates Rise to 84.1% in Latest OfS Data
By Kunal Chan Mehta | Article Date: 9 November 2026
LSST has recorded a significant improvement in first degree continuation rates, with the latest Office for Students (OfS) data showing an increase of 7.4 percentage points in one year.
Figures published through the OfS Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) dashboard show that 84.1% of LSST’s first degree students in the 2023/24 cohort continued their studies, compared with 76.7% of the previous year’s cohort.
The improvement reflects sustained work across LSST to strengthen the student experience, improve academic engagement and provide the support students need to progress through their studies.
Mr Ali Jafar Zaidi, CEO of LSST, said: “Improving student outcomes is a shared organisational responsibility. I am pleased to see this progress which reflects the sustained commitment of colleagues across LSST. We have a clear ambition to strengthen the quality of education and the opportunities we provide and we are determined to invest our efforts in ensuring that students are supported to fulfil their potential.”
Professor Paul McDermott, Principal of LSST, said: “Continuation is an important measure of the student experience but it is just one part of a much wider picture and series of processes. Our responsibility is to create the academic environment, quality of teaching and support structures that enable students to succeed. Our students are more than mere statistics progressing through a course. We want to ensure that all of our students have the right experience from the point of application through to engaging in our alumni when they have graduated and are utilising their award.”
Charlie Tennant, LSST’s Vice Principal, who joined LSST in September 2023 with a focus on improving student outcomes, said: “I’m pleased to see that the work we have put in at LSST is beginning to make a difference. We have also seen improvements in completion rates, although there is more to do, particularly in strengthening completion and progression. Improving higher education outcomes takes time, so it is encouraging to see this progress reflected in the latest data.”
Dr Wendy Wigley, Head of Student Lifecycle and Partnerships at LSST, said: “Student success is influenced by far more than what happens in the classroom. It requires a clear understanding of the challenges students face, the timely identification of support needs, and access to the right assistance at the right time. These OfS results are encouraging and reflect the collective efforts being made across our campuses. We must continue to build on this progress to ensure that all students remain engaged, succeed in their studies, and achieve their ambitions.”
Aasfieq Moosa, LSST’s Student Union President, said: “Continuation rates matter because every student deserves the opportunity to complete the qualification they have worked towards. It is very encouraging to see this improvement but we must also make sure all students feel listened to and stay confident throughout their studies. LSST’s Student Union will continue to work with LSST and the OfS to represent students’ views and help make their experience better.”
Changes in higher education outcomes take time to emerge in published statistics. Degree programmes span several years and official data are released after the relevant student cohorts have progressed through their studies. The latest figures therefore offer an encouraging indication of progress, while providing a clear focus for the work ahead.
For further details or media enquiries, contact LSST’s Public Relations Manager via kunal.mehta@lsst.ac.
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