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Published: 10 May 2017

Number of university degrees fell by 3 per cent from the previous year

According to Statistics Finland's Education Statistics, 31,900 degrees were completed in 2016, which is 800 fewer than in the previous year. The number of lower university degrees fell most, by five per cent from the year before. The number of higher university degrees fell only a little, by under one per cent. The number of doctorate degrees and licentiate degrees completed was unchanged from the year before.

Completed university degrees 2001–2016

University degrees

In all, 14,400 lower university degrees, 15,400 higher university degrees, 120 licentiate degrees and 1,900 doctorate degrees were completed. Fifty-seven per cent of those having completed a degree in 2016 were women. Nearly seven per cent of the degrees were attained by foreign students, the figure being good 10 per cent for higher university degrees and 23 per cent for doctorate degrees.

According to the new national classification of education (2016), most degrees in 2016 were completed in arts and humanities, 17 per cent of all degrees. Nearly as many, 16 per cent, were completed in the field of business, administration and law, and technology. Most doctorate degrees were completed in the field of health and welfare, natural sciences and technology, in total around 1,050, with about 350 doctors graduating from each field.

Examined by university, the highest numbers of degrees were completed at the University of Helsinki, 6,000. The second most degrees were completed at Aalto University, 4,200 and the third most at the University of Turku, 3,500.

University students

In 2016, a total of 25,600 new students started studies, which is 300 fewer than one year previously. The number of new students studying for higher university degrees increased by seven per cent. The number of new students studying for lower university degrees went down by four per cent and the number of new doctoral programme students decreased by three per cent in 2016. In all, 16,600 students started studying for a lower university degree and 7,300 for a higher university degree. Nearly 1,700 students started studies for a doctorate degree.

University students by fields of education (Finnish Standard Classification of Education) and gender in 2016

In 2016, a total 154,700 students were studying at universities, which is two per cent lower than in the previous year. In all, 81,300 students were studying for a lower university degree and 54,400 for a higher university degree. There were 18,900 post-graduate students, around 1,050 were studying for a licentiate degree and nearly 17,800 for a doctorate degree

In 2016, the highest numbers of students were studying in the field of arts and humanities, 18 per cent. The second most students were studying in the field of business, administration and law, 15 per cent. Nearly as many students, 14 per cent, were studying in the field of technology. The proportion of women of all students attending education leading to a degree was 53 per cent but the variation was large when viewed by field of education. In education good four out of five were women, in arts and humanities and in social sciences good two-thirds of students were women. Health and welfare, and agriculture and forestry were also female-dominated: around two-thirds of students were women. Women's share was smallest in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT), nearly one-fifth of students.

The number of students was highest at the University of Helsinki, 32,000. The second most students were found at Aalto University, 17,600, and the third most at the University of Turku, 16,100. More detailed time series data on university students and degrees by education and university are available in the tables in databases

Source: Education. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Tarja Seppänen 029 551 3220, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

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Tables

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Students in universities and completed university degrees by level of education, fields of education (National classification of education 2016) and gender in 2016 (10.5.2017)
• Appendix table 2. Foreign students in universities and completed university degrees by level of education, fields of education (National classification of education 2016) and gender in 2016 1) (10.5.2017)

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Updated 10.5.2017