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Published: 6 May 2015

Number of university students decreased and that of degrees increased in 2014

According to Statistics Finland's Education Statistics, a total of 163,800 students attended university education leading to a degree in 2014. The number of students went down by two per cent compared to the previous year. Altogether 31,200 degrees were attained, which was almost three per cent more than in the year before. The number of doctorate degrees grew most, by eight per cent.

Completed university degrees 2001–2014

University students

In all, 89,900 students were studying for a lower university degree and 49,700 for a higher university degree. There were 4,400 students studying for professional specialisation in medicine, veterinary and dentistry and 1,400 studying for licentiate's degrees. The share of those studying for a doctorate degree among all students was 11 per cent, or 18,500 students. The numbers of new students studying for a lower and higher university degree grew slightly, but the number of those studying for a doctorate degree went down. In 2014, 17,500 students started studying for a lower university degree and 7,000 for a higher university degree. Fewer than 1,700 students started studies for a doctorate degree.

University students by fields of education (Educational Administration’s classification 1995) and gender in 2014

In 2014, the highest numbers of students were studying in the field of administration and commerce, 26 per cent. There were nearly as many students in the field of humanities and education, 25 per cent. The third most students were studying in the field of technology and transport, 19 per cent. The proportion of women of all students attending education leading to a degree was 54 per cent but the variation was large when viewed by field of education. In the field of humanities and education, the proportion of women was 75 per cent and in the field of health and social services it was 67 per cent, but in the field of technology and transport the proportion was only 22 per cent.

The number of students was highest at the University of Helsinki, 34,800. The second most students were found at Aalto University, 18,300 and the third most at the University of Turku, 16,800.

University degrees

The number of degrees attained at universities increased. In 2014, the number of higher university degrees was 14,900 and that of lower university degrees 13,600. Completed degrees at the doctorate level numbered almost 1,900. Of all degrees completed at universities, over six per cent were attained by foreign students, the figure being nine per cent for higher university degrees and 21 per cent for doctorate degrees.

In 2014, most degrees were completed in the field of administration and commerce and in the field of humanities and education, 28 per cent in both. The third most degrees were completed in the field of technology and transport, 18 per cent. Most doctors graduated in the field of natural resources, 23 per cent.

Examined by university, most degrees were completed at the University of Helsinki, 6,100. The second most degrees were attained at Aalto University and the University of Turku, in both 3,500 degrees. Data on university students and degrees pertaining to 2014 were for the first time produced from the national database of universities. More detailed time series data on university students and degrees by education and university are available in the tables in databases .

Source: Education. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Anna Loukkola 029 551 3678, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Riitta Harala

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Tables

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Students in universities and completed university degrees by level of education, fields of education (Educational Administration's classification 1995) and gender in 2014 (6.5.2015)
• Appendix table 2. Students in universities and completed university degrees by region in 2014 (6.5.2015)
• Appendix table 3. Students in universities and completed university degrees by universities in 2014 (6.5.2015)

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Updated 6.5.2015