Completion rates of students in higher education, 2003/2004

Almost one-third of last year's tertiary graduates took double the normal time to complete their degree. 30 per cent of the students who completed undergraduate degrees were first registered at a tertiary institution in Norway six years or more prior to graduating. An equivalent proportion of postgraduates began their studies over ten years ago. Deferment of studies or changing degrees mid-way can influence the amount of time to complete tertiary education. 40 per cent of the students who completed a diploma of education last year were first registered in tertiary education over 13 years ago.

Degrees dominated by women completed fastest

Degrees with traditionally high female enrolment levels had the largest proportion of students who completed their degree within a normal timeframe. Around 50 per cent of graduates of Pre-school Teaching, Nursing, Health Care and Bachelor studies in Health, Welfare and Sport finished within three years. On average, more women than men completed undergraduate degrees on time, while more men took eight years or longer to finish. This gender-difference was most apparent amongst degrees with high proportions of female students.

Women closing the gap on men

While there are still more men completing postgraduate degrees, the gap between men and women is closing. Of all the students who began studying in 1992, there were 800 more men than women who completed a postgraduate degree within ten years. Amongst students who began one year later, the difference between men and women with postgraduate degrees after ten years was less than 500. This trend may partly be due to the fact that 500 fewer men and 100 more women registered as students in 1993 compared with 1992.

While overall student enrolment increased by 70 per cent from 1983 to 1993, a lower percentage of men from the 1993-cohort had completed a postgraduate degree after ten years. Women showed the opposite trend with an increase in proportion completing postgraduate studies within ten years. Women also showed a drop in proportion not completing any degree within ten years.

Tables:

• Table 1 Selection of completed undergraduate course in 2003 since the student was first registered in tertiary education. Absolute figures and per cent
• Table 2 Selection of completed postgraduate courses in 2003 since the student was first registered in tertiary education. Absolute figures and per cent
• Table 3 New entrants to tertiary education in 1983 and 1993, by gender and awarded qualification after ten years. Absolute figures and per cent
• Table 4 New entrants to tertiary education in 1983 and 1993, by parents' level of education and awarded qualification after 10 years. Absolute figures and per cent