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Number of university students grew in 2021

Statistics:

Students and qualifications

Reference period:

2021

Published:

12/05/2022

Next release:

Publication type:

release

According to Statistics Finland, a total of 159,500 students attended university education leading to a degree in 2021. The number of students increased by 1.9 per cent from the previous year. The number of new students was 32,600, which is 6.8 per cent higher than in the previous year. A total of 31,300 degrees were completed in 2021. The number of bachelor’s degrees completed was 13,600 and that of master’s degrees 16,000. Completed degrees at the doctorate level numbered 1600.

The line chart describes the development of the number of university students and degrees attained between 2001 and 2021. The number of university degrees was 16,800 in 2001 and, respectively, 31,300 in 2021. The number of degrees has increased over the past 20 years. Growth has been moderate except for 2008 and 2020, when matters related to the renewal of degrees raised the number of completed degrees more than usual. The situation is the opposite for the number of university students, that is, the number of students has fallen slightly when comparing 2001 and 2021. In the past four years, there has been a slight rise in the number of students.

Key points

Altogether 159,500 students attended university education leading to a degree in 2021.
The number of students increased by 1.9 per cent from the previous year.
New students numbered 32,600.
A total of 31,000 degrees were completed.

Figures

See key statistical data in the figures.

12.05.2022

University students by field of education

Education	15,728
Arts and humanities	24,553
Social sciences, journalism and information	19,633
Business, administration and law	24,156
Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics	14,937
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)	17,105
Engineering, manufacturing and construction	24,597
Agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary	3,002
Health and welfare	13,546
Services	2,288

12.05.2022

Number of university students by university

University of the Arts Helsinki	1,968
University of Turku	16,920
University of Eastern Finland	15,954
Aalto University	18,848
University of Lapland	4,640
Lappeenranta University of Technology	6,331
University of Vaasa	5,203
Hanken school of Economics	2,615
University of Jyväskylä	14,060
University of Tampere	21,479
University of Oulu	13,591
Åbo Akademi University	5,929
University of Helsinki	30,821
National Defence University	1,186