More than 50 per cent of the 3 900 men who completed a Master’s degree during the 2007/2008 study year did so within six years or less of the first registration in tertiary education.
Of the 4 600 women who completed a 5-year Master’s degree, 39 per cent did so within six years of the first registration. During this study year, about 8 500 men and women completed a Master’s degree. Forty-five per cent of them completed within six years of registration in tertiary education. Although fewer men study for a Master’s degree, they attain the degree faster than female students in most education fields. The exception is students who study for a Master’s degree in odontology. A larger proportion of these students is made up of women who attain the degree within five years. Seventy-three women attained a Master’s degree in odontology and one out of four did so within five years. Equivalent figures for men are one out of twenty.
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Throughput statistics are defined as the number of years since first time registration in tertiary education, and are not readjusted if a student changes to a new degree. According to this definition, very few students who switch degrees underway will be able finish within the expected timeframe. Deferment and part-time studying are not accounted for either. |
If we compare students registered in tertiary education for the first time in 1987 and 1997, and if they completed a degree 10 years later, we can see that among the women, the proportion that attained a graduate level degree is one percentage point higher for students who started in 1997. More than 15 per cent of the females who started their studies in 1997 graduated with a Master’s degree.
Out of the total 37 600 students, 14 800 new students did not attain a degree within 10 years of enrolment. Ten years earlier, in 1987, fewer persons started a tertiary education, but a larger proportion graduated. The proportion of students who do not complete a degree has risen by almost five percentage points. Among those who were first registered at a tertiary institution in Norway in 1987, 35 per cent were still without a degree after 10 years. Among students registered in 1997, 39 per cent did not complete a degree.
The proportion completing an undergraduate degree decreased. In 1987, 46 per cent graduated with a degree with a study time of four years or less, while among students enrolled in 1997, 42 per cent graduated. This decrease is also larger for men.
Published 16 October 2009 © Statistics Norway