Different tracks: A look at the different ways New Zealanders get tertiary qualifications Publications
Publication Details
This report looks at the extent to which tertiary students change qualifications or providers during the course of their study, and the impact this has on overall tertiary system performance.
The report shows that around 5% of students change to and complete higher-level qualifications, while between 5% and 10% change to and complete lower-level qualifications. Individual provider completion rates (which exclude transfers) are between 6 and 8 percentage points lower than system completion rates (which do include transfers). Current success indicators do not always include these students. Therefore, they under-estimate performance of the tertiary education system.
Author(s): David Scott, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis, Ministry of Education
Date Published: July 2008
Summary
Key Points
Changing qualifications is common.
- 22% of students changed qualifications before they had completed their qualification.
- 5% of students completed a higher-level qualification instead of the one they started.
- Between 5% and 10% completed a lower-level qualification instead of the one they started.
Changing providers is also common.
- 19% of students transferred to a different provider before they completed a qualification.
- 52% of students who progressed to higher-level study after completing a qualification, changed providers.
Students who transfer before finishing a qualification are significantly less likely to complete a qualification at the same level or higher than their original qualification. They are more likely to complete a lower-level qualification or to be still studying.
- For example, the degree-completion rate after 10 years for students who transferred was 35%, compared with 67% for those who didn't transfer. However, when transferring students who completed lower-level qualifications or who are still studying are considered, both groups had the same level of non-completion after 10 years (30%).
Individual provider completion rates (which exclude students who transfer and complete at a different provider), are between 6 and 8 percentage points lower than system completion rates (which include transferring students).
- Specifically, 8% of university degree students who start at one provider, complete at a different provider, and 6% of ITP1 diploma students who start at one provider, complete at a different provider.
Footnote
- Institute of technology or polytechnic.
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