Summary

Enrolments Trend

The shift from lower- to higher-level qualifications that started in 2005, continued in 2012. This trend is likely to increase the number of New Zealanders with high-level skills, in line with government's aim to lift productivity.

Domestic students enrolled at tertiary education institutions and private providers declined in number in from 2011 to 2012, mainly due to fewer non-degree enrolments by students aged 25 years and over.

More domestic students enrolled in bachelors degrees in 2012 than in 2011. Also, study loads continued to increase (on average). This increase in bachelors degrees was due to more enrolments by students aged 18 to 24 years.

Enrolments by people aged 18 and 19 years increased from 2011 to 2012, even though the New Zealand population aged 18 and 19 years declined. In part, this reflects the continuation of weak employment conditions for young people, even though the New Zealand economy expanded in 2011 and 2012. Another factor that is likely to have contributed to the increase in enrolments by younger people at bachelors level is the improved performance of school students in NCEA.

In 2012, there were 422,000 students (including international students) enrolled in formal study¹ with tertiary education providers.

The number of formal students (including international students) decreased by 2.0 percent from 2011 to 2012.

In terms of equivalent full-time student units, enrolments remained stable at 279,000 (see Figure 1).

The decrease in formal tertiary education enrolments from 2011 to 2012 was due to the number of domestic students decreasing by 2.2 percent. However, the total study load of domestic students remained stable in terms of equivalent full-time units at 247,000. International enrolments increased by 1.8 percent in terms of equivalent full-time student units to 32,800, while the international student headcount remained stable in 2012.

In 2012, the number of domestic students was 375,000 and the number of international students was 47,700.

Figure 1: Annual change in formal tertiary education enrolments

The decrease in domestic enrolments continued to be driven by a fall in the number of students in non-degree qualifications. Level 2 and 3 certificate enrolments and level 5 to 7 diploma enrolments decreased from 2011 to 2012 by 11,900 overall. This follows larger declines in lower-level certificate enrolments since 2005. In 2012, and in recent years, the decrease in non-degree enrolments was mainly due to fewer of these enrolments by students aged 25 years and over.

Figure 2:  Domestic and international tertiary education enrolments

In 2012, there were also small decreases in domestic enrolments at postgraduate level and graduate certificates/diplomas, while enrolments increased for bachelors degrees (up 2,260), level 1 certificates (up 1,180) and level 4 certificates (up 294).

The shift, in recent years, from lower- to higher-level qualifications continued in 2012, driving up the average study load of domestic students. The average annual study load of domestic students, in terms of equivalent full-time student units, was 0.54 in 2007, 0.64 in 2011 and 0.66 in 2012.

Domestic enrolments by students aged 18 to 24 years increased by 0.5 percent from 2011 to 2012, following a decrease from 2010 to 2011 – the first decrease since 1997. The increase from 2011 to 2012 was due to increases in bachelors degree, certificate 4 and doctoral study, while the number of enrolments in level 1 to 3 certificates and level 5 to 7 diplomas decreased.

Tertiary education enrolments by people aged under 18 years continued to decrease in 2012 with more of these students remaining at school.²

Figure 2 shows stable international student numbers in 2012 and an increasing trend from 2008 to 2011.

From 2011 to 2012, the number of students in formal study of less than one week's duration decreased by 6.3 percent to 24,100. The provision of non-formal courses in tertiary education organisations has decreased by 7.0 percent to 51,000 students. In terms of equivalent full-time student units, non-formal courses in tertiary education organisations increased by 0.9 percent from 2011 to 2012.

Footnotes

1. Students enrolled at any time during the year with a tertiary education provider in formal learning (that is, contributing towards a recognised qualification) of more than one week's duration. Workplace-based learning is not included in this report, unless otherwise stated.
2. Smart, W. (2009), Ebbs and Flows - Participation in post-compulsory education over the economic cycle Wellington: Ministry of Education.