The number of students at levels above compulsory education decreased by 3.4% from the autumn of 2013
There were 43,924 students at levels above compulsory education in Iceland in the autumn of 2014, a decrease of 1,533 students from the previous year (3.4%), mostly due to fewer students at the tertiary level. The enrolment rate at the tertiary level was lower than in the autumn of 2013 in all age cohorts between 20 and 29 years old, with the exception of 23 year olds. There were 19,911 males in education and 24,013 females. The number of males decreased by 520 from the previous year (2.5%) and the number of females by 1,013 (4.0%).
There were 24,104 students at the upper secondary level, a decrease of 2.4% from the previous year, and 880 students at the post-secondary non-tertiary level, an increase of 1.4%. There were 18,940 students at the tertiary level as a whole, a decrease of 4.8% from the autumn of 2013. The number of students at the doctoral level has increased year by year since 2001, with the exception of 2010-2011, when it dropped by 5.4%. There were 519 students at the doctoral level in the autumn of 2014, the highest number so far. Their number increased by 28 (5.7%) from the autumn of 2013. On the other hand, there were 342 fewer students studying for a master’s degree (7.4%), resulting in 4,285 students in the autumn of 2014. The number of students studying for a Bachelor degree and a basic diploma also dropped from the previous year.
The enrolment rate is lowest among immigrants
A total of 95.4% of 16 year olds attended school at the upper secondary level in the autumn of 2014, 96.3% of girls and 94.5% of boys. A total of 81.3% of 18 year olds attended school, more girls than boys. One-half of 20 year olds attended school, the lowest proportion since the year 2000. A possible explanation is that the reduction in study time for the matriculation examination has resulted in more 20 year olds already having completed this exam at the age of 19. The enrolment rate for 16 year olds was highest in the Northwest, 100.0%, but lowest in the Westfjords, 92.8%.
When the enrolment rate was examined by students’ origin, it was found to be lowest among immigrants, with 81.6% of 16 year olds and 55.0% of 18 year olds attending school in 2014. The enrolment rate of 18 year old immigrants has dropped since 2012. A possible reason is that these students had already completed education at the upper secondary level, as the enrolment rate for 17 year old immigrants is considerably higher. Another possibility is that these students have dropped out of school, at least temporarily. Immigrants are those who were born abroad and have both parents of foreign origin. Exchange students, who stay in Iceland for one year, are included in the data for immigrants.
At the same time all 16 year olds who are second generation immigrants attended school, but the rate had dropped to 93.8% by the age of 18. Second generation immigrants are those who were born in Iceland of two immigrant parents. It should be noted that there are only between 15 and 27 second generation immigrants in these age groups, so each individual weighs heavily in the data.
More than one out of every three students at the upper secondary level was enrolled in vocational programmes
More than one out of every three (34.7%) students at the upper secondary level was enrolled in vocational programmes in the autumn of 2014, while 65.3% were enrolled in general programmes. The share of students in vocational programmes has increased slightly during the last two years from a low of 33.2% in the autumn of 2012. The proportion of students in vocational education was higher among males, or 40.7% for male students and 28.5% for female students.
About the data
Information is gathered directly from the schools and from the computer programme INNA used by schools at the upper secondary level, and refers to the number of students in the middle of October each year. The enrolment rate is computed by classifying students by age and domicile each year and computing their proportion of the relevant age group. The data on the students’ origin come from a Statistics Iceland database on the population according to immigrant status.
Statistics
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Upper secondary schools
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