Tertiary student progression

Thirty-six percent of people who completed a tertiary qualification in 2005 went on to further study in 2006, with almost half of them going on to higher level study.

Why This Is Important

Progression used here is classified into three types, students who:

• progress to a higher qualification level
• continue their study at the same level as the qualification they have completed and
• continue study at a lower level of qualification.

Progression is useful as a measure of how many people advance their knowledge and skills acquisition.  For example, what proportion of older students attracted to tertiary study for the first time and completing a certificate, then go on to enrol in higher level study?  Do students with poor foundation skills or few school qualifications progress to higher levels after completing 'second chance' educational qualifications?

Similarly, progression can measure the rate at which a country's population acquires advanced knowledge, that is, the proportion of graduates who progress to postgraduate study.

How We Are Going

Over all qualification levels, 36% of people who completed a tertiary qualification in 2005 went on to further study in 2006.  This represents no change in the proportion of people who completed a tertiary qualification in 2000 who went on to do further study in 2005.  However, it is a reduction from the 39% who completed their qualification in 2004 and went on to further studying 2005.  This was due almost entirely to a decline of enrolments for level 1 to 3 certificates.

Progression for domestic students completing a qualification at a public provider between 2000 and 2005, by year and qualification level completed 

The proportion of graduates going on to do further study generally reduces with increasing level of most recent qualification.  Seventeen percent of people who completed any tertiary qualification in 2005 went on to study at a higher level during 2006, a 4.6% decrease from 2000 and a 10% reduction from the previous year.  The continuing strong labour market, with associated low unemployment rate, has meant that work is a viable and preferred alternative for those who otherwise would have continued study at a higher level.  Progression on to a higher level qualification was highest for students completing level 1-3 certificates.

Higher level progression rates for domestic students completing in 2005, by ethnic group and qualification level 

Māori had the highest rate of progression to study at higher levels (22%), compared with 19% for Pasifika, 18% for Asian, and 15% for European/Pākehā.

Asian students had the highest rate of progression to higher levels of study for those completing bachelors degrees, as well as honours/postgraduate certificates or diplomas, with 16% of bachelors degree graduates and 28% of honours/ postgraduate certificate or diploma graduates going on to higher level study.  There was little difference between the other ethnic group’s bachelors degree graduates' progression rates to post-graduate study. European/Pākehā students had the lowest progression rates to higher level study for those completing level 1 to 4 certificates and sub-degree diplomas.

Higher level progression rates for domestic students completing in 2005, by gender and qualification level