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Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 306, 25 September 1945, Page 6

\n astonishing increase in the number of students attending University classes in New Zealand is revealed in the annual report, on Higher Education presented to the House of Representatives. In 1911 the year reviewed, there were 7320 students at the four University colleges and the two agricultural colleges, this being the highest figure in the history of the Dominion, Since the institution of University education in New Zealand there has been a steady increase in enrolments, reaching a maximum prewar total of 5979 in 1939. After a setback during the war, the total reached 5-140 in 1943, and then jumped 40 per cent, to the lecoid of <3-0 last year. The courses comprised those in agriculture,. arts, architecture, commerce, dentistry, engineering, education, home science, horticulture, journalism, law, massage, medicine, music, and science. Courses in arts, containing as they do general “background” subjects, have consistently proved the most popular, but there has been a marked proportionate increase in enrolments for science degrees, this being no doubt a reflection of increased scientific interests. It is pleasing to note the steady increase in students for agricultural courses, the sphere of scientific research ami stmlv most applicable to New Zealand conditions. Enrolments for the different courses are not a very reliable guide to the number who finally secure decrees or diplomas. Last year, however, 270 secured Aris degrees out of a total enrolment in all classes of 2505, while Jl5 gained science degrees out of a total enrolment of 1002,