Summary

One of the questions that has arisen from the publication of attrition rates in tertiary education in New Zealand, especially for institutional planners and policy makers, is what factors lead a student to decide to stay in study or leave before completing. This question has been extensively researched overseas, but less so in New Zealand. This is the question addressed in this report: What factors make a difference to getting a degree in New Zealand?

This study is developed from a statistical model of the six-year completion rates of around 38,000 students who began a bachelors degree in a New Zealand tertiary education institution 1998. Statistical modelling allows relative rates of completion for certain subgroups to be estimated once other demographic and study-related differences are taken into account.

By taking account of demographic and study-related differences, this study explores some interesting questions such as:

• How do full-time students do compare with part-time students?
• How much difference does studying extramurally make?
• Do older students do better or worse than younger students?
• Do ethnic differences persist once other factors are adjusted for?
• How much difference is there between domestic and international students?
• Does having a disability affect your chance of completing?
• Are students who go straight from school more likely to complete?