University graduates up by 3.2% over 2013 academic year

During the year of reference, 2,108 graduates achieved an ISCED level 6 qualification equivalent to a first degree.

Graduates at level 6 decreased by 2.1 per cent when compared to academic year 2012/2013. Female graduates at levels 6 and 7 outnumbered males, while male graduates at level 5 exceeded females by a slim majority.

In 2014, graduates at ISCED level 7 registered a noticeable increase of 22.1 per cent when compared to 2013.

The majority of graduates for both academic years 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 were enrolled on a full-time basis. In 2014 those graduating from a full-time course amounted to 83.9 per cent of the total graduates while part-time graduates for academic year 2013/2014 made up 16.1 per cent of the total. The majority of part-time graduates achieved a qualification at ISCED level 7.

In 2014, the average age of students graduating at ISCED level 6 was 23.1 years and was similar to the average recorded in 2013 (23.5 years). Part-time graduates at all levels had a higher average age when compared with their full-time counterparts. ISCED level 8 students had an average graduation age of 33.6 years amounting to 1.7 years lower than the year before.

The areas of social science, business and law were the most popular among students who graduated for academic year 2013/2014, resulting in 36.1 per cent of graduates majoring in this field. This was followed by graduates in science subjects, with 15.2 per cent of graduates (Table 4). The fields of study favoured the most by male graduates were engineering, manufacturing and construction and science. In contrast, females had a stronger presence in education and health.

In 2014, foreigners graduating in Malta totalled 210, equivalent to 5.4 per cent of total graduates. Overall, the majority of foreign graduates were EU nationals.

Social sciences, business and law was the most popular field of study among foreign graduates (49.5 per cent) followed by health and welfare (19.0 per cent).