Statistics Iceland has collected and published data on registered students in upper secondary schools and universities in autumn 2008. The data are published in the Statistical Series.
A total of 47,282 students are registered
In the autumn term of 2008 there were 47,282 students registered in schools at the upper secondary and tertiary level of education, more than ever before. There were 29,271 registered students at the upper secondary level and 18,011 at the tertiary level. The number of registered students has increased by 2.6% between 2007 and 2008. The number of students has increased both at the upper secondary and tertiary level. Since 2007, the number of registered students increased by 3.3% at the upper secondary level, while at the tertiary level the increase was 1.6%. This is mainly due to a large increase in the number of students in distance learning programmes and an increasing number of elementary school pupils who are studying at the upper secondary level. Elementary school pupils are 5.0% of all students in upper secondary schools and their number has increased by 9.3% since 2007.
Women outnumber men at the upper secondary and tertiary level
Women outnumber men at both the upper secondary and tertiary level of education. Women are 27,085 (57.3% of students) at both levels while there are 20,197 men registered (42.7% of students) in autumn 2008.
The sex difference by school level is noticeable. Women are 54.0% of students at the upper secondary level, 37.0% at the post-secondary non-tertiary level, 64.3% at the first stage of tertiary education and 58.3% at the doctoral (Ph.D.) level.
General programmes are more popular than vocational programmes
At the upper secondary level 19,741 students (68.3%) are registered in general programmes whereas 9,163 students (31.7%) are registered in vocational programmes.
At the tertiary level of education 97.5% of students are registered in academic programmes while only 2.5% are registered in occupational programmes. Women are 64.7% of students in academic programmes and 50.1% of students in occupational programmes.
The line of study with the largest number of students is general studies at the upper secondary level with 6,870 students. The second most popular line of study is natural sciences for matriculation examination, with 4,879 students. A close third is the line of social sciences for matriculation examination with 4,545 students.
The most popular line of study in universities is business, with 2,896 students registered for the various business programmes. Law is the second most popular line of study with 1,290 registered students.
In the Statistical Series there are key data on the total number of registered students at both the upper secondary and tertiary level from 2002 to 2008. Data on progress of study are also published. Detailed information about the number of students in each school by line of study, sex and mode of teaching in autumn 2008 can be found here.
Registered students at the upper secondary and tertiary level in autumn 2008 - Statistical Series
Statistics
Upper secondary level
Universities
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