UK university drop-out rates

UK University drop-out rates 2009-2010

  • Scotland: 9.4% – up from 9.3% in 2008-09
  • Wales: 9% – up from 7.4%
  • England: 8.4% – up from 7.8%
  • Northern Ireland: 8.3% – down from 9%
  • UK: 8.6% – up from 7.9%

Higher Education Statistics Agency

Overall the trend is a rise in the number of students that drop-out. The economy and tuition fee are most likely not helping.

A lot of students struggle financially and if their parents are in financial difficulties it can lead to them dropping out.

Drop-outs are always at the top of our agenda and something everyone looks at with a great deal of concern.

Prof John Hughes, Higher Education Wales chair and Bangor University vice-chancellor

Links

BBC News Wales

3 thoughts on “UK university drop-out rates”

  1. My anecdotal two-pennyworth – I started at university first time around in 1989 and my last active involvement as an undergrad was in 2008 (so I reckon I have a fairly unusual perspective):
    – the cost of the course has gone from zero to a significant amount that will take years to repay
    – the cost of living has gone from very low (my grant covered my room and bills) to extortionate
    – the pressure on students in first year used to be minimal and more about pulling than studying; first year exams can now be a serious percentage of your overall degree
    – the added wage value of a degree has gone down for the majority of degrees – and the less well respected degrees seem to have no differential to speak of.

    I think we are being awful to our young people

    1. I’m annoyed by how encouraged university educations are. For me, the education might be worth for my own curiosity. Curiosity is the basis for all my aspirations. Is the highest purpose of education to make solid *approval stamped* job credentials? To me, its an imposed game: the cake is a f***ing lie. So the dilemma is to either get that damn certificate or get that god damn certificate.

  2. US higher education, before diversity, admitted the best of the qualified and scythed that population with freshman courses. If you could not perform you had time to pursue other paths. MIT and Caltech had 30% removals. Mere Michigan State admitted 1200+ students to Majors Organic Chemistry in 1969, including Uncle Al. In 1973, 14 plus Uncle Al were graduated BS/Chem. That may be perceived as unkind… unless you need a competent chemist. $32/credit-hour was double the in-state student rate.

    http://www.diversity.umich.edu/programs/
    Find a single Gifted program anywhere in the University of Michigan.

    Diversity preferentially admits the explicitly unqualified and awards them full financial aid. Michigan State tuition has somewhat increased, especially for out-of-state students,

    http://ctlr.msu.edu/costudentaccounts/Tuition_Fees.aspx

    One cannot imagine why higher education is collapsing. Perhaps it needs more social activism and more intense management – starting with direct Federal control. Private sector decisions are acts of anarchy, allowing those who earn their boons to deny the deserving their munificent due.

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