The concepts described on these pages are words and expressions used in statistics with a specific, limited meaning. In everyday speech the word may have a different meaning. In connection with each definition you can find information about which sets of statistics use the concept.

If you are looking for statistical figures, go from the definition to the statistics page.

New student

In the statistics on students and qualifications of educational institutions, new students refer to students who during the statistical reference year had registered for certain studies in a certain educational institution. In basic comprehensive school education new students refer to all pupils attending the first class. Statistical data are no collected on new students in basic education of adults.

The data concerning new students in 2012 was revised for university education: prior to 2012, only data on enrolment at a particular university was available for university students, from 2012 onwards, data on students that started a particular training programme at a university is available.

Up to 2001, only students having reported themselves as present were included as new students in university of applied sciences education.



Statistics using the definition

Validity of the definition

  • Valid

Source organisation

  • Tilastokeskus

In the statistics on university of applied sciences education new students refer to students studying on 20 September, and having attended the education concerned and been registered as present or absent for the first time in the university of applied sciences concerned between 1 January and 20 September.

Up to 2001, a new student in university of applied sciences education was a student having registered as present for the first time.



Statistics using the definition

Validity of the definition

  • Valid

Source organisation

  • Tilastokeskus

New students in vocational education refer to students who become registered at the educational institution during the calendar year studying in initial vocational education, further vocational education and specialist vocational education.



Statistics using the definition

Validity of the definition

  • Valid

New students in vocational education refer to students who became registered in the educational institution during the calendar year studying in curriculum-based vocational education and attending education preparing for a skills examination, as well as students who have made an apprenticeship training agreement during the calendar year.



Statistics using the definition

Validity of the definition

  • 1 January 2015 - 31 December 2018

Source organisation

  • Tilastokeskus

Related concepts

New vocational education students refer both to students who on 20 September are studying in curriculum-based vocational education and were registered into an educational institution between 1 January and 20 September and to students of preparatory education for a skills examination who were registered into an educational institution during the calendar year (1 Jan. - 31. Dec.).



Statistics using the definition

Validity of the definition

  • 1 January 2004 - 31 December 2014

Source organisation

  • Tilastokeskus

Related concepts

In the statistics on vocational education a new student refers to a student who on 20 September is studying education leading to a qualification and was registered between 1 January and 20 September for certain education in the educational institute concerned.



Statistics using the definition

Validity of the definition

  • 1 January 1999 - 31 December 2003

Source organisation

  • Tilastokeskus

Related concepts

Source organisation

  • Tilastokeskus

From 2012 onwards, new students in the statistics on university education refer to students having started studies leading to the current university degree at the university concerned and studying on 20 September.

Previously, new students referred to students that had enrolled at the university concerned for the first time to study for a lower or upper university degree in any field of education and studying on 20 September.
Up to 2001, a new student in university education was one who had started studies at the university concerned during the calendar year.



Statistics using the definition

Validity of the definition

  • Valid

Source organisation

  • Tilastokeskus

In the statistics on entrants to education and progress of studies new students in upper secondary general education and university of applied sciences education refer to the students studying on 20 September who had registered into certain studies in the educational institution concerned between 1 January and 20 September. New students in vocational education refer to students who became registered in the educational institution during the calendar year studying in curriculum-based vocational education and attending education preparing for a skills examination, as well as students who have made an apprenticeship training agreement during the calendar year. Before 2013, new students in curriculum-based vocational education were those registered between 1 January and 20 September. From 2010 onwards, new students in university education refer to students having started studies leading to the current university degree at the university concerned and studying on 20 September. Previously, new students referred to students that had enrolled at the university concerned for the first time to study for a lower or upper university degree in any field of education and studying on 20 September.

The number of new students is lower than in other statistics by sector of education because it only includes students with a correct Finnish personal ID number and because a new student is only included once in the number of students by sector of education, level of education or some other variable, such as educational institute.



Statistics using the definition

Validity of the definition

  • Valid

In the statistics on entrants to education and progress of studies new students in upper secondary general education and polytechnic education refer to the students studying on 20 September who had registered into certain studies in the educational institution concerned between 1 January and 20 September and, since 2002, in polytechnic education students who had reported themselves as present or absent for the first time. In vocational education new students refer to the students studying in curriculum-based vocational education on 20 September who had registered into the educational institution concerned between 1 January and 20 September and, since 2004, the students attending preparatory education for a skills examination or with apprenticeship training agreements who had registered into the educational institution concerned between 1 January and 31 December. In the statistics on university education new students refer to the students new to the university who had started studies leading to a lower or upper university degree and were studying on 20 September. The number of new students is lower than in other statistics by sector of education because it only includes students with a correct Finnish personal ID number and because a new student is only included once in the number of students by sector of education, level of education or some other variable, such as educational institute.

Up to 2001, a new student in polytechnic education was a student having registered as present for the first time. Up to 2001, a new student in university education was one who had started studies at the university concerned during the calendar year.



Statistics using the definition

Validity of the definition

  • 1 January 2004 - 31 December 2012

Source organisation

  • Tilastokeskus

Related concepts

In the statistics on entrants to education and progress of studies new students in upper secondary general education, post-comprehensive vocational education and polytechnic education new students refer to the students studying on 20 September who had registered into certain studies in the educational institution concerned between 1 January and 20 September and, additionally, in polytechnic education students who had reported themselves as present or absent for the first time. In the statistics on university education new students refer to the students new to the university who had started studies leading to a lower or upper university degree and were studying on 20 September. The number of new students is lower than in other statistics by sector of education because it only includes students with a correct Finnish personal ID number and because a new student is only included once in the number of students by sector of education, level of education or some other variable, such as educational institute.

Up to 2001, a new student in polytechnic education was a student having registered as present for the first time. Up to 2001, a new student in university education was one who had started studies at the university concerned during the calendar year.



Statistics using the definition

Validity of the definition

  • 1 January 1995 - 31 December 2003

Source organisation

  • Tilastokeskus

Related concepts

Source organisation

  • Tilastokeskus

In the statistics on upper secondary general education new students refer to the students registered in an educational institution on 20 September who had been entered into the register of the educational institution between 1 January and 20 September of the same year.



Statistics using the definition

Validity of the definition

  • Valid

Source organisation

  • Tilastokeskus

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