The drop-out rate at the University of Lincoln is tumbling year on year, according to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act.
In the 2006/07 academic year a total of 1,190, or 9.6% of the student body, dropped out of their courses. In following academic year 8.9% left before completing their degree. In 08/09 this fell even further to just 5.5%, or 594 students.
The figures are broken down by course. In 08/09, the single-honours undergraduate course with the most students dropping out is BSc (Hons) Social Work, with 21 students leaving. However, this only reflects 3.1% of the total number of students on it.
BA (Hons) English had 24 drop-outs in 07/08, accounting for 12.8% of the course. However, in 08/09 just 3 students — 1.6% of the course total — quit.
Some courses have seen a proportional increase in quitters, including BA (Hons) Graphic Design, BA (Hons) International Tourism Management, and BA (Hons) Dance.
The information was released to Dan Perry, a second-year journalism student at the university, on the freedom of information website www.whatdotheyknow.com.
National drop-out rates rose last year, meaning the University of Lincoln is going against the trend. The University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute has the worst drop-out rate in the UK, with a third of its students leaving after the first year.
A University of Lincoln spokesperson said they are “delighted” with the overall fall in drop-out rate.