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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

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Students and qualifications [e-publication].
ISSN=2737-0410. 2007. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 29.3.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/opiskt/2007/opiskt_2007_2008-01-25_tie_001_en.html