Some one in four students who start a third level computer science course drop out before the end of their first year, according to a study published by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) today.
Students entering courses such as medicine, law, veterinary, dentistry and education (teaching) are most likely to complete first year, with progression rates ranging from 98 per cent to 95 per cent.
With 73 per cent of applicants completing first year, computer science had the highest non progression rate.
Construction and engineering courses had a progression rate of 80 per cent, while 86 per cent of those who undertook courses in science and arts/humanities/ business moved on to second year.
The study was based on 35,000 full-time undergraduate students who entered third-level education between 2007 and 2008.
It suggested students who achieve higher points in the Leaving Cert are more likely to progress in college, with the trend most clearly reflected in mathematics. Females were less likely to drop out of college, with a 13 per cent drop-out rate compared to 17 per cent among males.
When examining social class the study found the children of skilled manual workers were least likely to progress. This could in part be attributed family earnings as students in this group would be on the margins of qualifying for grant aid.
The research suggested students getting a grant are more likely to progress in third level with the study indicating the award was important in fostering a sense of financial well-being and security.
The children of professional couples were highly likely to progress to second year.
More generally, the study found the average drop-out rate between first year and second year at HEA institutions - which include the seven universities, institutes of technology (ITs) and other colleges - stood at 15 per cent.
It showed the drop-out rate rose to one quarter of IT students on certificate level and ordinary degree courses. These students attain an average of between 250 and 300 points in the Leaving Cert.
The drop-out level fell to 16 per cent among honours degree students attending ITs, who attained between 300 and 350 points on average. Honours degree students attending one of the Republic’s seven universities, who averaged between 400 and 450 points in their Leaving Cert, had a corresponding drop-out rate of 9 per cent.
Other colleges, primarily made up of teacher training colleges, where students attained an average of 450 to 500 points in their Leaving Cert, had a 4 per cent equivalent drop-out rate.
