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Published: 22 March 2016

Immediate continuation of studies still difficult for new passers of the matriculation examination

According to Statistics Finland's Education Statistics, the number of new passers of the matriculation examination was around 32,100 in 2014. Seventy-eight per cent of them applied immediately to further studies, but only every third continued their studies in the following autumn. The share of those left outside further studies has grown over several years.

Direct transition to further studies of passers of the matriculation examination 2008–2014

New passers of the matriculation examination were more interested in university education than in the year before. Thirty-six per cent of passers of the matriculation examination applied only to the university sector. Every fifth new passer of the matriculation examination applied to polytechnic education and similarly, every fifth applied simultaneously to polytechnic education and university education. However, nearly 67 per cent do not continue studies in the following autumn. The share of those continuing in polytechnic education decreased most. In contrast, the share of new passers of the matriculation examination continuing in vocational education grew somewhat.

Immediate continuation of studies in the upper secondary level became easier for completers of the 9th grade of comprehensive school

There were around 57,900 completers of the 9th grade of comprehensive school in 2014. Nearly all completers of the 9th grade of comprehensive school applied for further studies, 1.5 per cent did not do so. Over 60 per cent of women applied primarily to upper secondary general school. Fifty-five per cent of men applied primarily to upper secondary vocational education.

The shares of those starting education leading to a qualification grew from the previous year, to 94 per cent. Fifty-two per cent of completers of the 9th grade of comprehensive school continued in upper secondary general school and 42 per cent in upper secondary vocational education.

Direct transition to further studies of completers of the 9th grade of comprehensive school 2010–2014

Around one per cent continued in additional education of comprehensive school (10th grade) and nearly one per cent of completers of the 9th grade of comprehensive school in preparatory studies, i.e. preparatory education for upper secondary school for immigrants and foreign-language speakers, and preparatory vocational education for immigrants. In addition to these, slightly over four per cent remained outside education leading to a qualification.

Nearly one half of those starting studies for a polytechnic degree were passers of the matriculation examination

The share of those having passed only the matriculation examination among those having started studies for a polytechnic degree was considerably lower than in the previous year. In 2014, forty-nine per cent of new students had passed only the matriculation examination while in 2013 this figure was 55 per cent. Thirty-nine per cent started studies with a vocational qualification or a combination of the matriculation examination and a vocational qualification, four per cent with a previously completed polytechnic degree and two per cent with a university degree.

New students by education and prior degree or qualification in 2014, %

The majority of those having started studies for a lower university degree, 79 per cent, had the matriculation examination as their basic education in 2014. Eight per cent of those having started studies for a lower university degree had a vocational qualification or a combination of a vocational qualification and the matriculation examination as their basic education, over five per cent a polytechnic degree, and over six per cent a university degree.

Nearly 80 per cent of those having started curriculum-based basic vocational education for young people had completed the comprehensive school, one in ten had completed the matriculation examination and the rest some other qualification. Over one-half of those having started studies for preparatory vocational education for a skills examination had completed vocational education before. More detailed information about the basic education of applicants to education leading to a qualification and new students by level of education, field of education and sex can be found in the database tables .

Every third applicant started studies in higher education

A total of 365,900 young people or adults applied to education starting in 2014. Fifty-eight per cent of them started studying. In these figures, the new student is included once in the numbers for the educational sector. Only every third applicant started studies in higher education. Polytechnics had 113,600 applicants, of whom 33 per cent started studies. Twenty-nine per cent of the 83,000 applicants to university started their studies. Studies were started by 94 per cent of the applicants to upper secondary general schools and 89 per cent of those to upper secondary vocational education.

Source: Education. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Anna Loukkola 029 551 3678, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

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Tables

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• Database tables and their variables
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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Direct transition to further studies of completers of the 9th grade of comprehensive school 2005 - 2014 (22.3.2016)
• Appendix table 2. Direct transition to further studies of passers of the matriculation examination 2005 - 2014 (22.3.2016)
• Appendix table 3. New students by education and prior highest qualification in 2014 (22.3.2016)
• Appendix table 4. Simultaneous application to different levels of education and new students simultaneously at different levels in 2014 1) (22.3.2016)

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Updated 22.3.2016