An analysis of Great Britain's higher education system, primarily between 1981 and 1994, considers the possible implication of demographic trends and how that pattern may change over the next 15 years. The purpose of the paper is to direct public attention to the issues and encourage debate rather than present discrete policy options. Planning figures for higher education reflect a pattern in which young home entrants have predominated. Successive governments have provided for this group by following the principle advocated by the Robbins Committee of 1963 that higher education courses should be available for all qualified aspirants. Appendices include detailed data on student numbers from 1966-77; age distribution of faculty; distribution of students between art and science courses; and finance, fees, and expenditures. The current method of projecting full-time and sandwich student numbers is summarized and projections are presented on young home entrants, overseas and mature home entrants, and postgraduates. Higher education numbers from 1960-61 and statistical projections to 1995-96 are presented. (SW)