Guide to performance indicators in higher education
Non-completion rates - Table T3
Non-completion rates for students at an institution are presented in two ways. The first considers students who start in a particular year, and looks at whether they are still in higher education one year later. The second method (considered under the next heading) looks at projected outcomes over a longer period.
Using the first method, Table T3 shows what percentage of students at each institution who started in 2000-01 have continued at the same institution, transferred to another institution, or left higher education completely by 2001-02.
Figures are shown separately for young and mature entrants, for young students from low participation areas and from other areas, and for mature entrants with and without previous higher education qualifications.
Findings
Nationally, a higher proportion of mature entrants than young entrants do not continue in higher education after their first year. The average non-continuation rate is 14 per cent for mature entrants compared with 7 per cent for young entrants. The non-continuation rate for young entrants is below 10 per cent at three-quarters of institutions. For mature entrants it is between 5 and 20 per cent at the majority of institutions. However, at over 5 per cent of institutions the non-continuation rate is above 20 per cent.
Of course some of those who leave will return, so another table (Table T4) gives additional information on these. This shows that, nationally, about 24 per cent of young students and 13 per cent of mature students who did not continue beyond their first year then returned after a year out – either to the original institution or to another one.
Last updated 11 December 2003