Students in higher education, 1 October 2007

The distribution of students in different fields of education has been quite stable over time. Due to fewer students in tertiary institutions in recent years, humanities and arts and social sciences and law have faced the most marked decrease in student numbers. In humanities and arts the decline was nearly 10 per cent between 2006 and 2007, but compared with 2005 the decline was 17 per cent. In social sciences and Law there were almost 7 per cent fewer students in 2007 compared with 2006.

Most students in Norway chose health, welfare and sports studies (20 per cent) and business and administration studies (18 per cent) in 2007. These studies were also most popular among Norwegian students abroad. In total, 36 per cent of the students abroad were enrolled in health, welfare and sports studies and 19 per cent in business and administration.

University of Oslo and Bergen face largest decline in student numbers

The University of Oslo had a decline in student numbers of more than 6 per cent from 2006 to 2007. The decline for the University of Bergen was almost 8 per cent.

Largest proportion of female students among students resident in Finnmark

Over the past ten years there has been an increase in the proportion of women in tertiary education. In 2007, female students outnumbered male students in all counties. Students from Finnmark had the largest proportion of women in tertiary education (65 per cent), followed by Nord-Trøndelag and Sogn og Fjordane (about 63 per cent). Oslo had the lowest proportion of women in tertiary education with 57 per cent.

The proportion of women in tertiary education has changed between 1997 and 2007, and the largest change is seen among students who lived abroad at the age of 16. In this group there has been a 15 percentage point increase in female students. This group had the lowest proportion of female students in 1997, which had climbed to 62 per cent, and above the average, in 2007.

Tables:

• Table 1 Students in tertiary education in Norway and Norwegian students abroad, by gender, type of college, ownership and educational institution. 1 October 1997, 2006 and 2007
• Table 2 Students in tertiary education in Norway and Norwegian students abroad, by gender, age and type of college. Absolute figures and per cent. 1 October 2007
• Table 3 Students in tertiary education in Norway and Norwegian students abroad, by gender and field of education. 1 October 1997, 2006 og 2007
• Table 4 Students in Norway and Norwegian students abroad, by county of residence at the age of 16. 1 October 1997 and 2007. Percentage women
• Table 5 Norwegian students in tertiary education abroad, by gender and countries of destination. 1 October 1997, 2006 and 2007