Home > Statistics > Entrance to education > 2012 > Immediate continuation of studies became easier for completers of comprehensive school but more difficult for new passers of the matriculation examination

Published: 23 January 2014

Immediate continuation of studies became easier for completers of comprehensive school but more difficult for new passers of the matriculation examination

Immediate continuation of studies was slightly easier for completers of the 9th grade of comprehensive school in 2012 than one year earlier. In contrast, immediate continuation of studies was more difficult than before for new passers of the matriculation examination. In all, 8.5 per cent of the completers of the comprehensive school and 62.5 per cent of the new passers of the matriculation examination failed to get a place for further studies. The share of those left outside further studies went down for completers of comprehensive school and went up for new passers of the matriculation examination by good one-half of a percentage point from one year before. These data derive from education statistics compiled by Statistics Finland.

Direct transition to further studies of completers of the 9th grade of comprehensive school 2005 - 2012, %

The total number of completers of the 9th grade of comprehensive school was 61,100 in 2012, which was good two thousand fewer than one year earlier. Fifty per cent of them (59 per cent of women and 42 per cent of men) went on to study in upper secondary general school, and 41.5 per cent (33 per cent of women and 50 per cent of men) went on to attend upper secondary level vocational education. The remaining 8.5 per cent did not immediately continue studies leading to a qualification or degree. They may have continued studies not leading to a qualification, such as additional education of the comprehensive school (tenth grade) or counselling and preparatory studies for initial vocational education (Career Start).

The share of those continuing studies leading to a qualification or degree was slightly higher than in the previous year, even though the share of those who did not apply for a student place at all decreased to some degree. However, nearly all completers of the 9th grade of comprehensive school applied for further studies as only 1.7 per cent did not do so.

The share of completers of the comprehensive school who continued to upper secondary general education was highest in the region of Uusimaa and the number who continued to vocational education was highest in the region of Kymenlaakso. The number of young people who did not continue to any studies leading to a qualification or degree after the comprehensive school was relatively highest in the comprehensive schools of the regions of North Ostrobothnia, Päijät-Häme and Uusimaa.

Direct transition to further studies of passers of the matriculation examination 2005 - 2012, %

New passers of the matriculation examination numbered 32,000 in 2012, which was nearly one thousand fewer than in the previous year. Eighteen per cent of them entered university education and 16 per cent entered polytechnic education in the autumn of the year they passed the exam. Four per cent entered upper secondary vocational education.

Clearly over one-half, or 62.5 per cent, of the passers of the matriculation examination in 2012 did not continue studying in their year of graduation. The share of those left outside further studies has increased over several years and it continued growing in 2012. This was the case, although the share of those who did not apply for a student place at all diminished. Seventy-seven per cent of the new passers of the matriculation examination applied for further studies. The share of applicants was good one-half of a percentage point higher than a year before.

Entry to university education was easiest for students from the region of Ostrobothnia. The largest numbers of students continued to polytechnic education in Central Ostrobothnia. Those having passed the matriculation examination in Uusimaa remained most frequently outside further studies.

Source: Education. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Riikka Rautanen 09 1734 2375, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Riitta Harala

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Direct transition to further studies of completers of the 9th grade of comprehensive school 2005 - 2012 (23.1.2014)
• Appendix table 2. Direct transition to further studies of completers of the 9th grade of comprehensive school by sex 2012 1) (23.1.2014)
• Appendix table 3. Immediate applying for further studies by completers of the 9th grade of comprehensive school by sex 2012 1) (23.1.2014)
• Appendix table 4. Direct transition to further studies of passers of the matriculation examination 2005 - 2012 (23.1.2014)
• Appendix table 5. Direct transition to further studies of passers of the matriculation examination by sex 2012 1) (23.1.2014)
• Appendix table 6. Immediate applying for further studies by passers of the matriculation examination by sex 2012 1) (23.1.2014)

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Updated 23.1.2014