Page 41 - TLÜ aastaaruanne 2014

3.1 STUDENT BODY
During the academic year 2014/2015, a total of 55,214 students stud- ied at Estonian higher education establishments, which shows the decreasing trend in the total number of students for the fourth suc- cessive year. The highest number of students studied in UT (26% i.e. 14,170 students) (See Figure 5); 12,926 (23%) of students studied at TUT and TU had the third-highest number of students (17% of students)
A total of 9,485 students were studying at TU as of 10.11.2014, which is nearly 9% less than in the previous year. The number of students has showed a stable decrease at all levels of higher education, except in doctoral study (See Figure 6). The decrease has been caused by the decrease in the number of student places, and consequently in the number of students admitted, as well as the higher incidence of interrupted studies. In planning student places, the limits were set for the student places in study programmes with Estonian as a language of instruction based on the teaching capability of the university and the principle of decreasing the total number of students admitted and increasing the proportion of students admitted to the second level of higher education.
The number of international students increased to 522. The pro- portion of admitted international students compared to the total number of admitted students shows a growing trend: 23% more for- eigners were matriculated in comparison to 2013. Finland (112 stu- dents), Russia (13), Latvia (8) and Nigeria (8) account for the largest number of international students who were matriculated.
Tallinn University offers admission on special conditions to peo- ple with mobility, hearing and visual impairment. Eleven students were admitted on special conditions in 2014/2015 academic year (10 in BA, 1 in MA), which is slightly less than in 2013 (13 students).
In 2014, there were 1,703 events of interrupted studies, which represent 18% of students. The number and proportion of students who have interrupted their studies has increased in comparison to the previous years. Deletion from the matriculation register at the request of the student took place for a total of 813 students, this being the most usual reason for interrupting studies. Compared to previ- ous years, there were more students deleted from the matriculation register at the request of the university (due to a failure to participate in studies in 175 cases and due to a failure to progress in studies in 376 cases). Analysis of the interrupted studies revealed that the studies are most often interrupted during the first semester (30%). A similar tendency is evident in other universities also, and therefore it is important to support first-year students and to develop their study skills in order to reduce the dropout rate. In spring 2014, the proce-
dure for processing deletion from the matriculation register was re- vised by creating a corresponding solution in the Study Information System. Compared to previous years, an individual directive of dele- tion from the matriculation register is now drawn up for each student in compliance with the principles of administrative procedures.
The number of graduates has remained stable at all levels of high- er education during the two previous years. In 2014 a total of 1,727 students graduated (See Figure 7). The percentage of students who graduated within the nominal period of studies is the highest in pro- fessional higher education (81.2%). In Bachelor´s and Master´s study the percentage of students graduating within the nominal period of studies varies in different years. In Bachelor´s study, the percentage has increased (from 46% to 51%), but in Master´s study, there is a small decrease (from 48% to 45%).
39