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Registered students in schools at the upper secondary and tertiary level in autumn 2009

Statistics Iceland has collected and published data on registered students in upper secondary schools and universities in autumn 2009. The data are published in the Statistical Series.

A total of 48,706 students are registered
In the autumn term of 2009 there were 48,706 students registered in schools at the upper secondary and tertiary level of education, more than ever before. There were 29,698 registered students at the upper secondary level and 19,008 at the tertiary level. The number of registered students has increased by 3.0% from the previous year. Since 2008, the number of registered students has increased more at the tertiary level, or by 5.5%, while at the upper secondary level the increase was 1.5%. This increase is mainly due to an increase in the number of students in distance learning programmes at the tertiary level. At the upper secondary level the number of students in distance learning decreased compared with the previous year for the first time.

The number of elementary school pupils decreased by one-quarter
Elementary school pupils who also attend upper secondary schools are 1,090, or 4.0% of all students in upper secondary schools. Their number has decreased by one-quarter since the previous year. More than one hundred young students are ahead of their age group and registered as full time students at the upper secondary level. That is equivalent to 2.3% of 15 year olds in 2009.

Women outnumber men at the upper secondary and tertiary level
Women are 56.5% of all registered students in schools at the upper secondary and tertiary level; 52.9% of students at the upper secondary level and 62.2% of students at the tertiary level.

The majority of students are registered for academic studies rather than vocational programmes. At the upper secondary level 67.2% of registered students are enrolled in general programmes and 98.1% of students at the university level are studying academic subjects.

An increase in the number of law students and a decrease in business students
The most popular line of study in universities is business, with 2,896 students registered for the various business programmes. Law is the second most popular line of study with 1,290 registered students. The number of business students decreased by 364 (12.6%) from the previous year while the number of law students increased by 114 (8.9%). Business and law are the only subjects at the tertiary level with more than 1,000 students.

More than 300 doctoral students in 44 fields of study
There are 314 doctoral students in Iceland studying 44 different subject areas, an increase of 31 (11.0%) students since 2008. There are 134 male and 180 female doctoral students. The most popular subject area of study is education with 47 students; while 35 study medicine and 25 study biology.

More information
The Statistical series Hagtíðindi includes key data on the total number of registered students both at the upper secondary and tertiary level for the years 2003 to 2009. Data on progress of study are also published as well as detailed information about the number of students in each school by line of study, sex and mode of teaching in autumn 2009.

Registered students in schools at the upper secondary and tertiary level in autumn 2009 - Statistical Series

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