Home > Statistics > Students and qualifications > 2007 > Growth in the number of students in education leading to a qualification or degree has slowed down

Published: 25 January 2008

Growth in the number of students in education leading to a qualification or degree has slowed down

The total number of students in education leading to a qualification or degree has been growing throughout the 2000s, but the growth has been slowing down for several years already. The total number of students was 1,264,000 in 2006 and, according to preliminary data on 2007, their number will grow only slightly from that. These data derive from education statistics compiled by Statistics Finland.

Nearly one-half of the students attended comprehensive school education, slightly below one-third vocational or upper-secondary general education and one-quarter polytechnic or university education. In comprehensive and upper secondary general school education the number of students has fallen as age cohorts have grown smaller. By contrast, the number of students attending vocational education has been going up continuously as vocational education intended for adults has increased. In university or polytechnic education the growth in the number of students has slowed down or turned into a decline. However, according to preliminary data from autumn 2007, the number of students attending polytechnic education appears to grow slightly from the year before due to an increase in the number of students studying for a higher polytechnic degree.

The total number of qualifications and degrees attained in 2006 was 200,000, which is a good one per cent more than in the year before. The average age for passing matriculation examination was 19, and the median age for attaining a vocational qualification was 21. On average, polytechnic degrees were obtained at the age of 26, and higher level university degrees at the age of 27.

Students in education leading to a qualification or degree and attained qualifications and degrees by sector of education 2000-2007

Students/Qualifications Year	Sector of education
	Basic comprehensive school education, compulsory education school	Basic education of adults	Upper-secondary general education	Vocational education1)	Polytechnic education	University education2)	Total
Students
2000	593,451	2,269	130,032	159,884	114,020	157,796	1,157,452
2001	595,727	2,071	128,642	160,115	118,013	162,939	1,167,507
2002	597,356	1,924	124,644	166,809	126,767	164,312	1,181,812
2003	597,414	1,919	121,816	174,813	129,875	169,846	1,195,683
2004	593,148	1,843	120,531	230,823	131,919	173,974	1,252,238
2005	586,381	1,985	118,111	243,398	132,783	176,061	1,258,719
2006	578,918	2,098	117,260	256,872	132,560	176,555	1,264,263
20 Sept. 2007, preliminary data	570,6893)	2,1793)	116,000	205,5004)	133,300	176,100	1,203,8005)
Change 2006-2007, %, preliminary data	-1.4	3.9	-1.1	5.1	0.6	-0.3	0.2
Qualifications
2000	65,937	256	35,935	55,477	14,178	16,845	188,628
2001	63,747	213	35,568	52,545	18,045	16,822	186,940
2002	61,450	209	36,524	52,041	20,462	17,708	188,394
2003	60,831	212	35,512	54,079	20,588	18,197	189,419
2004	63,828	268	35,022	56,678	20,821	18,293	194,910
2005	63,755	234	34,408	58,197	21,397	19,176	197,167
2006	65,783	274	33,151	60,280	21,006	19 410	199,904
2007	65,568	255	..	..	..	..	..
Change 2006-2007, %	-0.3	-6.9	..	..	..	..	..
1) The coverage of data on students in vocational education changed in 2004. Data on education preparing for a skills examination and apprenticeship training concern the whole calendar year while in the past they described the situation on the cut-off date of 20 September. Data on vocational education institutions' curriculum-based education leading to vocational qualifications concern the situation on 20 September for all years. Preliminary data also relate to the cut-off date. 2) For 2000-2001 the data describe the situation on 31 December and from 2002 onwards the situation on 20 September. 3) Final data. 4) For 2006, the respective preliminary figure for number of students in vocational education is 195,500. 5) For 2006, the respective preliminary figure for number of students in education leading to a qualification or degree is 1,201,600. __   Data on either side of the line are not fully comparable.

These statistics apply harmonised concepts and classifications to draw an overall picture of education leading to a qualification or degree. Although the statistics contain data on all sectors of education, the main emphasis is on post-comprehensive education. Related data on each educational sector are also published on Statistics Finland's website.

Source: Education Statistics. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Ms Riikka Rautanen +358 9 1734 2375, Ms Irma Suovirta +358 9 1734 3280, koulutus.tilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mr Jari Tarkoma

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Last updated 25.1.2008