More than 100,000 students drop out of university after first year

More than 100,000 students are dropping out of degree courses after their first year, according to the results of an investigation that are published today.

Youngsters studying for much-needed maths, science and engineering qualifications were the most likely to drop out, according to the figures. Those opting to study medicine were the most likely to complete their courses. Nearly a quarter of all students (22.4 per cent) in the UK fail to complete their courses.

The findings, which come in a survey of student retention rates by the National Audit Office, coincide with research claiming almost one in four youngsters now believes going to university may be a "waste of time" because of increased student debt.

The survey shows a dip in the percentage of drop-outs compared with three years ago. However, because of the expansion in the numbers going to university, it says that could call into question the Government's policy of widening participation in higher education. "There is a balance to be struck between widening participation while improving retention - because students from different backgrounds need different support to complete their courses," the research concludes.

The percentage of youngsters going on to higher education has risen from 39 per cent to 43 per cent since 2001. Ministers want it to be 50 per cent by the end of the decade. The report points out that the UK is in the top five in a league table of retention rates compiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Only Japan, Ireland, Korea and Greece have lower drop-out rates.

One of the worst drop-out rates in the world is in the United States, where about 50 per cent of youngsters continue into the second year in higher education compared with 91.6 per cent in the UK.

Sir John Bourn, head of the NAO, welcomed news of the UK's position in the world league table, but added: "Variations in retention rates between higher education institutions indicate retention could be increased further." This, he argued, would bring "major benefits to the extra students who would complete their studies and more value to the taxpayer and the economy from the public funds expended on higher education".

The figures show universities in the Russell Group - which represents the top 20 research institutions in the country - have the highest course completion rates. Those universities which were formerly polytechnics - and which take in the greatest number of students from deprived backgrounds - have the lowest.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, said: "It is alarming that the institutions that are doing so much to further the widening participation agenda are the ones suffering the highest drop-out rates. We have to understand that just getting students to university is not enough."

The figures also show the higher the qualification a student possesses, the more likely he or she is to stay on. Fifty-one of the 117 higher education institutions supplying information for the survey saw their drop-out rate increase between 2000/1 and 2004/5, with 30 registering a rise of more than 1 per cent. Forty-two saw their drop-out rates fall by more than 1 per cent.

The report concludes that if all institutions peg their drop-out rates at their 2000/1 levels, an extra 1,250 students would be kept on courses. This could be a target for the sector.

The institutions with the highest retention rates into the second year of study were St George's Hospital Medical School with 98.8 per cent and Oxford University with 98.6 per cent. The biggest drop-out rates were recorded by the University of Chester with an 81.7 per cent continuation rate and the University of Bolton with 81.6 per cent. A breakdown of the 115,000 who failed to complete their courses showed the vast majority (87,000) were on part-time degree courses.

Meanwhile, a survey of 18- to 24-year-olds revealed nearly one in four were writing off going to university because of fears about the debts they could run up.

A £1bn expansion of the Government's extended schools plan was unveiled yesterday by Schools Secretary Ed Balls. The money is designed to ensure that every youngster can have access to breakfast clubs, out-of-hours tuition and after school clubs.

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