Post-Primary Outcomes - Academic Years Ending 2012 & 2013

This chapter examines students’ engagement with higher education with an emphasis on national framework of qualifications (NFQ) course level and field of study.

The commentary focuses on the 2012/2013 academic years. In general, 49.0% of 50,810 LCE Completers from the 2012/2013 academic year were subsequently enrolled in higher education in the same year. This figure rises to, and peaks at, 58.9% in outcome year two (2014) and falls to 49.7% by year five. The percentages include those who were also enrolled in further education in the same year. The outcomes reported in the chapter are breakdowns of the annual participation numbers. It should be noted that the numbers of Early Leavers in higher education are extremely low when examining outcomes.

Statbank tables: PPO03 - Higher education activity

Over three quarters of higher education students in NFQ Level 8 in each outcome year

In year one, 79.6% of 24,870 LCE Completers from the 2012/2013 academic year were enrolled in an NFQ Level 8 course. This level represents the dominant NFQ throughout the 2012 - 2017 period.

For Early Leavers, the primary level of activity recorded in year one was NFQ Level 8 with 62.7% of 50 students active at this level. In year two, 82.0% of 330 students are active in NFQ Level 8 courses. 

Statbank tables: PPO04 - Higher education activity by NFQ level

Higher rate of females in NFQ Level 8 in year one

For the 2012/2013 academic year in year one, 85.0% of the 12,440 female LCE Completers in higher education are active in NFQ Level 8 courses, compared to 74.1% of the 12,430 males. At NFQ Level 7, 19.0% of males are enrolled compared to 10.0% of females.

For Early Leavers, 69.2% of the 30 female students are enrolled in NFQ Level 8 in year one, while for 30 males students the rate is 56.0%. Note that outcomes are rounded to the nearest 10.

 

One-fifth of LCE Completers in higher education studying Arts & Humanities in year one

From the 2012/2013 academic year, the top three fields of study by ISCED code (see Methodology) for LCE Completers in year one are Arts & Humanities (20.0%), Business, Administration & Law (18.0%) and Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction (12.1%). In year two, the top three fields are Business, Administration & Law (18.9%), Arts & Humanities (18.7%) and Health & Welfare (12.8%).

For Early Leavers, the top three fields of study in year one are Business, Administration & Law (27.5%), Arts & Humanities (19.6%), and Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction (13.7%). In year two, the top three fields are Business, Administration & Law (25.8%), Arts & Humanities (18.0%) and Health & Welfare (14.7%).

Statbank tables: PPO05 - Higher education activity by field of study