The number of applicants per place to higher vocational programmes varies between different fields of education. As in the previous year, the number of applicants per place was highest for programmes focused on law, and journalism and information. There are relatively few places in programmes in these fields and each represent about 1 percent of the total number of places in higher vocational education programmes that commences in 2020. The number of applicants was lowest to programmes in agriculture, animal care, forestry and fisheries and Computers/IT. There were 22 400 qualified applicants to economics, administration and sales, which was the overall largest field of education.

Sharp increase in the number of men who commenced studies

In 2020, there were 35 800 admitted students who commenced their studies, which is 26 percent more than in 2019. The number of men who commenced their studies increased by 31 percent and amounted to 16 800, and the number of women increased by 22 percent and amounted to 18 900. The share of women, which over time has been larger than the share of men, was 53 percent.

Proportion of women in Computers/IT increased

The highest number of admitted students who commenced their studies was in the field of education Economics, administration and sales, 7 200, of whom 73 percent were women. Computers/IT is now the second largest field of education, with 5 600 admitted students, of whom 69 percent are men. Women have increased their share here to 31 percent, compared with 27 percent in 2019.

The third largest field of education, Civil and structural engineering, had 5 500 students admitted, 68 percent of whom were men. Technology and manufacturing had 5 200 admitted students, 78 percent of whom were men. Health and medical care and social services had 5 100 students admitted, 89 percent of whom were women.

More women than men in distance learning

The proportion of students admitted in distance learning programmes increased from 27 percent to 31 percent. In total, there were 11 100 students admitted to distance learning programmes, compared with 24 600 to traditional programmes. Among women, 36 percent attended distance learning compared with men, for whom the corresponding share is 26 percent.

The fields of education with the largest share of distance learning were Security services at 71 percent, followed by Health and medical care and social services at 64 percent.

There are now 77 900 students

There were 77 900 students in higher vocational education in 2020. Among these, 54 percent were women, which is a decrease of 1 percentage point.

The five largest fields of education have increased their shares of students from 79 percent to 80 percent. The largest increase, 46 percent, was in Computers/IT. Technology and manufacturing increased by 29 percent, followed by 28 percent in Civil and structural engineering.

More women than men in short programmes

In 2020, a new concept was introduced in higher vocational education - short programmes in the form of courses and course packages. There were just under 7 100 qualified applicants to short programmes in higher vocational education.

Among the 5 300 students in 2020, 59 percent were women. Among women, the most popular field of education was Economics, administration and sales, followed by Health and medical care and social services. Among men, the most popular field of education was Civil and structural engineering, followed by Computers/IT.

The most common programme length was six weeks and most of the students studied Economics, administration and sales.

Distance learning as a form of education dominated the short programmes, at 84 percent.

The average age among students in short programmes was 39 years. The average age among women was slightly higher, 40 years, compared with 38 years on average among men.