Of those applying for a study place in vocational schools offering early acceptance, more than half gained a spot for the start of Spring term 2014. There were 2,920 applicants, of whom 1,640 were accepted.
However, the number of applicants dropped noticeably this Autumn compared to recent years, the reason being that the admission criteria have changed. Those who have already completed a degree were not eligible to apply. Additionally, obligations to support greater accessibility to further education in order to boost the labour market have been withdrawn.
Vocational education and training institutions offered the most early-entry spots this fall in the field of social and health care, tourism and hospitality, as well as in technology and transport.
Health and Social Care attracted the most candidates. Of these, 35 percent gained a study place, while every fifth candidate got into a polytechnic.
Tough competition
There were 16,000 young applicants for technical colleges. Of them 3,270 were accepted for studies in Autumn of next year. Meanwhile, professional schools for adults attracted 9,400 hopefuls, of which slightly more than one on five gained admission. Interest in a study spot at such institutions increased by more than 6 percent on last Autumn.
In contrast, 1,185 people applied for university level studies, which also has around a one-in-five success rate. That figure is up by 46 percent on last Autumn. Early-entry university places were on offer in natural sciences, economics and informatics.
Higher education places must be formally accepted no later than 4:15pm on December 10.