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Published: 23 January 2009

Number of students in education leading to a qualification fell

The total number of students in education leading to a qualification or degree was 1.26 million in 2007. Preliminary data on 2008 indicate that after several years of growth the number of students will fall by 1.5 per cent from the previous year. These data derive from education statistics compiled by Statistics Finland.

In comprehensive and upper secondary general school education the number of students fell due to diminished age cohorts. The number of students only decreased slightly in polytechnic education but by as much as seven per cent in university education. The number of university students fell as a record number of master's degrees were attained in 2008 in consequence of the review of the degree system. By contrast, the number of students increased in both vocational education and basic education of adults.

The total number of qualifications and degrees attained in 2007 was 205,000, which is good two per cent higher 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 the 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 2000-2008

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
2007	570,689	2,179	115,253	266,479	133,284	176,304	1,264,188
20 Sept. 2008, preliminary data	561,0613)	2,4633)	114,500	211,4004)	132,5013)	164,100	1,186,1005)
Change 2007-2008, %, preliminary data	-1.73)	13.03)	-0.7	2.9	-0.63)	-6.9	-1.5
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	33,508	62,186	20,969	22,310	204 796
2008	66,810	221	..	..	..	..	..
Change 2007-2008, %	1.9	-13.3	..	..	..	..	..
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 2007, the respective preliminary figure for number of students in vocational education is 205,500. 5) For 2007, the respective preliminary figure for number of students in education leading to a qualification or degree is 1,203,800. __  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, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mr Jari Tarkoma

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Last updated 23.1.2009