Rate of student drop-outs on the rise in Galway

The number of third level students in Galway dropping out of their courses in the first year is on the rise – latest figures show as many as half of students on certain courses are failing to complete them.

A new report from the Higher Education Authority shows a significant level of drop-outs among students at NUI Galway and the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology in the 2010/11 academic year, the latest for which figures are available.

In GMIT, almost one-third of all students failed to progress beyond first year in 2010/11, which was in excess of the national average for ITs of 24%. In NUI Galway, the comparative figure was 9%, which is the national average rate for universities.

For Ordinary Bachelor Degrees, GMIT was at 31%, up from 30% in 2007/8, while the national average was up 2% to 28%.

In the Higher Certificate (two years) category, GMIT saw a 37% drop-out rate in first year, up from 34% in 2007/8. The national average was 31% (up from 25%).

The study found that there are particularly low ‘progression rates’ among those studying for certs and ordinary degrees – possibly due to increased costs for third level education.

Meanwhile at NUI Galway, the services sector also seemed to prove an unattractive option to students, with a 23% drop-out rate in first year, followed by Computer Science at 21% and Science, Agriculture and Veterinary courses at 14%.

“Some students entering with a Leaving Certificate attainment of 255-300 points are struggling to remain in higher education. Possible further declines in higher education funding coupled with projected increases in higher education participation has the potential to negatively impact those students requiring high levels of staff-student interaction,” the report reads.

Read more in this week’s Connacht Sentinel