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Tertiary Participation

Participation in tertiary education in New Zealand.

Students enrolled at New Zealand’s tertiary institutions

The following section summarises the key trends in enrolments and equivalent full-time students (EFTS) at universities, institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs), wānanga and government-funded private training establishments (PTEs). The data covers domestic and international students that were enrolled during the 12 months to the end of December 2021. Participation rates have been revised back to 2005 using the latest population estimates from Statistics NZ.

Provider-based enrolments

This page summarises the key trends in enrolments, equivalent full-time students (EFTS) and participation rates at universities, Te Pūkenga (institutes of technology and polytechnics), wānanga and government-funded private training establishments (PTEs). The data covers domestic and international students that were enrolled during the 12 months to December 2021. Full data tables can be accessed on this page. Participation rates for 2021 will be added once data is available.

What does the 2021 data show?

  • The overall number of students enrolled in formal study at tertiary providers increased by 4.7 percent (17,695), from 380,090 in 2020 to 397,785 in 2021.
  • Domestic student numbers increased again in 2021. There were 9.0 percent (or 29,605) more students enrolled in 2021 than in 2020. As expected with the continuing impact of COVID-19, international student numbers decreased significantly by 23 percent (11,915), from 50,920 in 2020 to 39,005 in 2021.
  • All ethnic groups saw an increase in enrolments for domestic students. Asian and Pacific Peoples saw the highest percentage increases (14.6 percent and 9.9 percent respectively), while Māori and European groups showed lower percentage increases (7.9 percent and 8.8 percent respectively).
  • Domestic student numbers increased across all subsectors, and international student numbers decreased across all subsectors apart from wānanga. The largest increase in student numbers occurred in Te Pūkenga with 13,585 extra domestic students (representing a 12 percent increase in domestic students) but Te Pūkenga also had the largest decrease in international student numbers of 5,345 (representing a 43 percent decline in international students).
  • Changes in study load, measured in EFTS, followed similar trends as for student enrolment numbers.

Total participation

The overall number of students enrolled in formal study at tertiary education providers in 2021 increased by 4.7 percent (17,695), from 380,090 in 2020 to 397,785 in 2021. Domestic student numbers increased again in 2021. There were 9 percent (or 29,605) more students enrolled in 2021 than in 2020. As expected with the ongoing impact of COVID-19, international student numbers decreased significantly (by 23 percent or 11,915 students), from 50,920 in 2020 to 39,005 in 2021 (see Table 1).

Enrolments for females increased slightly more than for males. Note that reporting of students identifying with another gender started in 2019. Year on year changes in this gender category may mostly reflect increasing reporting compliance and the reporting of demographic details of students new to tertiary education.

Table 1: Comparison of 2020 and 2021 domestic and international student enrolments, EFTS and participation rates
Number of students enrolled Number of EFTS
20202021 % change20202021 % change
Total 380,090 397,785 4.7 250,920 261,775 4.3
Domestic 329,175 358,780 9.0 212,920 233,565 9.7
Female 200,440 218,780 9.1 129,200 142,105 10.0
Male 128,135 138,790 8.3 83,285 90,555 8.7
Another Gender 595 1,210 103.0 435 905 108.0
International 50,920 39,005 -23.4 37,995 28,210 -25.8

Figure 1: Domestic student enrolments, EFTS and participation rates 2012-2021

Figure 1: Domestic student enrolments, EFTS and participation rates 2012-2021

Participation by ethnic group

Table 2 compares domestic enrolments and EFTS for the main ethnic groups for 2020 and 2021. All ethnic groups saw an increase in enrolments for domestic students. Asian and Pacific Peoples saw the highest increases (14.6 percent and 9.9 percent respectively), while Māori and European groups showed lower increases (7.9 percent and 8.8 percent respectively).

Enrolment changes were largely reflected in EFTS numbers, with increases for Asian (by 13.2 percent) and Other ethnic groups (by 10.3 percent), although these percentage increases were slightly less than the percentage change in student enrolment numbers. The decline in Māori enrolment numbers and EFTS seen in 2020 is reversed in 2021.

Figure 2 shows participation rates by ethnicity for 2015 to 2020. Participation rates for 2021 will be added once population data is available. Māori and Pacific rates were consistently higher than other groups, and while all groups had decreases in rates up to 2019, European and Asian participation rates stabilised in 2020.

Table 2: Comparison of 2020 and 2021 domestic student enrolments and EFTS by ethnic group
Ethnicity Number of students enrolled Number of EFTS
20202021 % change20202021 % change
European 206,730 224,835 8.8 132,495 145,360 9.7
Māori 69,735 75,230 7.9 43,775 48,180 10.1
Pacific Peoples 32,520 35,740 9.9 21,655 23,750 9.7
Asian 53,405 61,180 14.6 37,535 42,485 13.2
Other 16,990 18,870 11.1 10,920 12,040 10.3
Total 329,175 358,780 9.0 212,920 233,565 9.7

Figure 2: Domestic participation rates by ethnicity 2015-2020

Figure 2: Domestic participation rates by ethnicity 2015-2020

Participation by subsector

All subsectors showed an increase in total student enrolments in 2021, although this was because the increase in domestic student numbers outweighed the decrease in international students. For most the increase was between 3 and 7 percent, with wānanga having a higher percentage increase at 13.7 percent but this was off a smaller base (see Table 3).

Except for the wānanga subsector, which has few international enrolments, all other subsectors had large decreases in international enrolments. The largest decreases were for Te Pūkenga (by 43 percent), followed by PTEs (by 23 percent) and universities (by 15 percent). Note that the percentages were calculated on the unrounded data.

Table 3: Comparison of 2020 and 2021 domestic and internation student enrolments and EFTS by subsector
Subsector Number of students enrolled Number of EFTS
20202021 % change20202021 % change
Domestic
Universities 146,925 156,865 6.8 114,415 122,815 7.3
Te Pūkenga 112,920 126,505 12.0 53,090 60,355 13.7
Wānanga 30,090 34,075 13.2 17,740 20,845 17.5
Public providers 285,075 311,640 9.3 185,245 204,010 10.0
Private Training Establishments 48,125 51,950 7.9 27,675 29,555 6.8
Total 329,175 358,780 9.0 212,920 233,565 9.7
International
Universities 30,730 26,040 -15.3 23,450 19,910 -15.1
Te Pūkenga 12,570 7,225 -42.5 9,115 4,370 -52.1
Wānanga 25 175 600 15 65 333
Public providers 43,220 33,375 -22.8 32,575 24,345 -25.3
Private Training Establishments 8,000 5,780 -27.7 5,420 3,865 -28.7
Total 50,920 39,005 -23.4 37,995 28,210 -25.8
Total
Universities 177,655 182,900 3.0 137,865 142,725 3.5
Te Pūkenga 125,490 133,730 6.6 62,205 64,725 4.1
Wānanga 30,115 34,250 13.7 17,750 20,905 17.8
Public providers 328,295 345,015 5.1 217,820 228,355 4.8
Private Training Establishments 56,125 57,735 2.9 33,095 33,420 1.0
Total 380,090 397,785 4.7 250,920 261,775 4.3

Participation by qualification level/type

Enrolments increased across all qualification levels except graduate diplomas and certificates between 2020 and 2021. The larger increases were for lower-level non-degree qualifications. Level 1 certificate enrolments increased by 22 percent (2,365 students) and Level 2 certificates increased by 12 percent (2,340 students), while diplomas and certificates at Levels 5-7 increased by 13 percent (6,430 students). In general, the trends for enrolments are repeated for EFTS, although masters degrees EFTS declined slightly compared with a slight increase in student numbers (see Table 4).

Table 4: Comparison of 2020 and 2021 domestic and international student enrolments and EFTS by qualification type/NZQF level
Qualification Type/Level Number of students enrolled Number of EFTS
20202021 % change20202021 % change
Certificates 1 10,950 13,315 21.6 4,020 5,215 29.7
Certificates 2 19,930 22,270 11.7 7,405 8,415 13.6
Certificates 3 53,515 59,195 10.6 22,575 25,420 12.6
Certificates 4 56,395 59,785 6.0 24,150 25,480 5.5
Diplomas/Certificates 5-7 48,320 54,750 13.3 25,760 28,710 11.5
Bachelors Degrees 7 143,740 147,000 2.3 116,085 119,595 3.0
Graduate Diplomas/Certificates 7 14,455 11,625 -19.6 8,275 6,395 -22.7
Honours/Postgraduate Certs & Dips 8 30,910 31,320 1.3 20,620 20,680 0.3
Masters Degrees 9 23,660 24,075 1.8 14,430 14,235 -1.4
Doctoral Degrees 10 10,150 10,325 1.7 7,595 7,635 0.5
Total 380,090 397,785 4.7 250,920 261,775 4.3

Technical Notes and Definitions

Data sources:

Ddata relates to students enrolled at any time during the year with a tertiary education provider in formal qualifications of greater than 0.03 EFTS (more than one week's full-time duration). Data excludes all non-formal learning and on-job industry training. Data includes those private training establishments that received Student Achievement Component funding, and/or had students with student loans or allowances, and/or delivered Youth Guarantee programmes. Students are counted in each ethnic group they identify with. Totals also include those students with unknown values.

Equivalent full-time student (EFTS):

One equivalent full-time student (EFTS) unit is defined as the student workload that would normally be carried out in a single academic year (or a 12-month period) by a student enrolled full-time.

Participation rate:

The total participation rate is the percentage of the population aged 15 years and over who were enrolled at any time during the year. Rates are only calculated for domestic students. Rates for 2021 are not able to be calculated at this time.

Rounding:

Data, including totals, has been rounded to the nearest 5 to protect the privacy of individuals, so the sum of individual counts may not add to the total.

Te Pūkenga:

The New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST) was established in 2020 as part of the reforms of vocational education. It is a new kind of organisation providing work-based, on campus, and online vocational learning and training across the country. NZIST brings together the previous 16 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) into one organisation, and over time, will develop the capability to support work-based, campus-based and online learning as a unified system. More information can be found on the website for Te Pūkenga.

Statistical Tables

Provider-based enrolments Updated: May 2022

Statistics relating to students enrolled in tertiary education providers by a range of demographic and other characteristics.

  • Provider-based enrolments [MS Excel 1.6mB]

Provider-based equivalent full-time students Updated: May 2022

Statistics relating to student enrolment in tertiary education providers in terms of equivalent full-time student units.

  • Provider-based equivalent full-time students (EFTS) [MS Excel 1.3mB]

Participation rates Updated: July 2021

Statistics relating to the percentage of the New Zealand population enrolled in tertiary education.

  • Participation rates [MS Excel 3.6mB]
  • Age-standardised participation rates [MS Excel 3.6mB]
  • Methodology for participation rates [PDF 145.kB]

Provider-based enrolments: field of study
of the courses studied at tertiary education providers Updated: May 2022

Statistics relating to the field of study of each of the courses a student is enrolled in at tertiary education providers by various student and study characteristics. For example you might use this data to know how many students are studying at least one course in Information Technology.

  • Provider-based enrolments: Field of study at the course level [MS Excel 1.0mB]

Provider-based equivalent full-time students: field of
study of the courses studied at tertiary education providers Updated: May 2022

Statistics relating to the number of equivalent full-time students (EFTS) at tertiary education providers by field of study and by various student and study characteristics. This data is collated at the course level. For example you might use this data to know the number of EFTS enrolled in Information technology courses.

  • Provider-based equivalent full-time students: Field of Study [MS Excel 965.6kB]

Provider-based enrolments: predominant field
of study of students at tertiary education providers Updated: May 2022

Statistics relating to the predominant field(s) of study of students enrolled at tertiary education providers. This data looks at all the courses studied within a qualification to determine a student's predominant field(s) of study. For example, you might use this data to know how many students are specialising in Information technology.

  • Provider-based enrolments: Predominant field of study [MS Excel 1.0mB]

Participation in industry training Updated: May 2021

Statistics relating to trainees enrolled in workplace-based learning, including industry training and Apprenticeships.

  • Participation in Industry Training [MS Excel 400.9kB]

Rates of progression to further study after graduating Updated: July 2021

Statistics about students who undertake further study after completing a tertiary qualification. Data is presented for detailed and grouped qualification levels and types, and for narrow and broad fields of study. Data is available in spreadsheets as filtered lists, or as comma delimited text files for uploading into business intelligence and analytics tools.

MS Excel Graduate Progression Rates: Broad levels[MS Excel Binary Worksheet 2.1mB]

MS Excel Graduate Progression Rates: Broad levels Narrow FOS[MS Excel Binary Worksheet 17.8mB]

MS Excel Graduate Progression Rates: Detailed levels [MS Excel Binary Worksheet 5.3mB]

  • Data graduate progression rates: detailed levels [Zipped CSV File 2mB]

Targeted training programmes Updated: June 2019

Statistics relating to students enrolled in Training Opportunities, Youth Training and Skill Enhancement programmes.

  • Targeted training programmes [MS Excel 53kB]

Secondary-Tertiary Alignment Resource (STAR) Updated: December 2021

Statistics relating to school students participating in Secondary-Tertiary Alignment Resource (STAR) programmes.

  • Secondary-Tertiary Alignment Resource (STAR) [MS Excel 43kB]

Adult and community education Updated: December 2021

Statistics relating to participation in non-formal learning, including Adult and Community Education.

  • Adult and community education [MS Excel 40kB]

Languages Updated: June 2021

Statistics relating to participation in language courses.

  • Languages [MS Excel 184.8kB]
Statistics

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