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

1. Institute of technology or polytechnic.