Women in Politics and IR: What three years of HESA data reveals
Understanding the overall health of the discipline is a core part of PSA’s mission, and we are grateful to the Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS) for sharing the latest HESA data. This dataset will enable us identify areas where progress has been made and where challenges persist.
In this analysis, we review the 2021-2024 HESA data with a focus on female representation across academic staff and students within Politics and International Relations (PIR) departments in the UK, highlighting emerging trends and significant shifts.
Women are strongly represented in academic roles but remain underrepresented at senior levels
Across all three years, females account for majority of academic staff in ‘other contract levels’ representing more than 84% of this group annually. In senior management, females represent between 2.0-2.4% with no significant improvement across the period. Progress is more visible at the professoriate level with the moderate increase from 11.9% (2021/22) to 13.7% (2023/24).
Positive shift in female representation in open-ended or peremanent contracts
Positive shift in female representation in open-ended or permanent contracts
Female representation in open-ended or permanent contract grows steadily from 70.5% to 74.2% across three years. Post-92 institutions maintain place as highest representation of females in open-ended or permanent contracts.
Females are the most represented in teaching and research roles, and less represented in research-only roles.
There are more female students than male in PIR departments
Although females remain the majority overall, the data reveals a different trend when analysed by institution types and level of study. Russell Group universities continue to show over 50% female representation, whereas in other Pre-92 and Post-92 groups the proportion falls below 50%. A similar pattern emerges when looking across levels of study. Among undergraduates, females remain in the majority, but the data shows a dip in 2022/23 followed by a modest recovery in 2023/24, with totals still slightly below the 2021/22 baseline. In postgraduate taught programmes, females also remain above 50%; however, there is a clear and consistent decline in female PGT numbers each year across the three‑year period. By contrast, postgraduate research shows a rise in female participation in 2022/23 before falling back in 2023/24, ending the period above its starting point but still below 50% female representation overall.
Females in PIR continue to achieve strong academic outcomes
Despite a slight decline in the number of female students that achieve a first or upper second class, the overall proportion still exceeds 80%.
What do we make of the data?
Despite strong participation and achievement across the academic pipeline in PIR departments, females remain significantly underrepresented in research-only and senior leadership roles. The research pipeline remains fragile, with low female representation at PGR level and in research-only positions. There is, however, some positive progress, including a gradual shift from fixed-term to open-ended contracts for females. Females also continue achieve high academic outcomes at undergraduate level.
These findings highlight the value of PSA’s work in strengthening the research pipeline and supporting progression for female academics through various EDI initiatives such as Diverse Voices, and activities of the Women & Politics specialist group. Continued investment in mentoring, leadership development and sector-wide advocacy will be crucial in translating strong participation into opportunities for progression and leadership, contributing to a healthier and inclusive discipline.
Author: Joan McDappa, PSA’s Diversity & Projects Officer
