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NI's universities attract poorer students
Queen's University keeps majority of its students |
By BBC NI's education correspondent Maggie Taggart
The two universities in Northern Ireland attract more students from lower income families than other universities in the United Kingdom.
However, figures show a higher drop-out rate among some students in the University of Ulster.
UK universities have been told to recruit more students from poor backgrounds and from districts which do not have a track record in higher education.
A survey shows how well they have done but how many people drop out early.
Completing a degree
On average, 18% leave university before they complete their degree.
Queen's University in Belfast does better, keeping all but 10% of its students.
But the University of Ulster has the best record in the UK for attracting students from unlikely neighbourhoods and poorer families, around 40% of its undergraduates.
Despite that success, it loses a large chunk of those students before they graduate.
A spokeswoman said she acknowledged the apparent contradiction and they are examining the figures.
The statistics are for two and three years ago and so pre-date the introduction of tuition fees and the abolition of grants so the drop out rate cannot be put down to people being priced out of university.
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