Profile & Trends 2008: New Zealand's Tertiary Education Sector

Bachelors and postgraduate qualifications

In 2008, enrolments in bachelors degrees and graduate certificates and diplomas represented 41 percent of all equivalent full-time student units in provider-based tertiary education. Those in postgraduate qualifications accounted for 11 percent.

The number of students in bachelors and higher study increased slightly overall in 2008. Domestic enrolments increased for bachelors degrees, honours degrees, postgraduate certificates and diplomas and at doctoral level, while there were fewer domestic enrolments at masters level and in graduate certificates and diplomas. In 2008, there were fewer enrolments by international students overall.

The downward movement in international enrolments was due to a significant decrease at bachelors level, which was mainly due to cohort effects – smaller intakes in multi-year qualifications in the last few years are still having an effect on overall numbers. While international enrolments decreased overall, there were strong  increases in international enrolments at doctorate and masters level and in graduate certificates and diplomas. The large percentage increase from 2007 to 2008 in doctoral degrees was driven by the change to funding international doctorate students on the same basis as domestic students – thus reducing the fees these students pay. The underlying trend in international enrolments appears to be moving in an upward direction, with international first-year enrolments increasing in 2007 and 2008.

All provider types had increases in the number of domestic enrolments apart from wānanga. While the number of enrolments at wānanga declined at postgraduate level, bachelors-level study   at wānanga increased. The largest overall percentage increase in   enrolments at this level of study in 2008, as in 2007, was in private   training establishments.

Domestic enrolments in bachelors-level and higher qualifications by students identifying with the European, Asian and Pasifika ethnic groups were higher in 2008. Māori enrolments at these levels declined slightly. Most enrolments were by European students, followed by Asian students.

Across all age groups, domestic enrolments declined, except for students aged 18 to 24 years.

First-year retention rates in bachelors or higher study were generally higher in 2008 compared with five years earlier. The five-year retention rates were highest for students identifying with the European and Asian ethnic groups. 

More domestic students completed a bachelors or higher qualification in 2008 than in 2007. The qualification completion rates were slightly higher than reported last year at bachelors and masters level with a stronger increase for postgraduate certificates and diplomas. At doctorate level, the completion rate remained stable from 2007 to 2008. 

Figure 1.7: Participation in bachelors and higher qualifications   by gender