Some university students are more equal than others: Efficiency evidence from England

Abstract

This paper estimates the efficiency of students in English universities using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and a new dataset which is able to capture the behaviour of university students. Two output variables are specified: the classification of a university degree, and student satisfaction. Three input variables are specified: teaching hours, private study and entry qualifications. The results reveal that university students differ in terms of the efficiency with which they use inputs in generating good degrees and satisfaction. Students in some post-92 universities may be more efficient than students in some pre-92 universities.Data Envelopment Analysis; Efficiency; Education Economics; Universities.