High school and university graduates

High school graduates

A total of 40 488 students passed their school-leaving examinations (Reifeprüfung) in Austria in 2007. This means that since 1960 the number of students who graduated from high school has more than tripled despite a declining overall population. The change in the relative numbers of young men and women is also striking. Whereas females were severely under-represented in 1960, accounting for less than one-third of all high school graduates and therefore clearly disadvantaged in terms of participation in education, over the past few years significantly more females than males gained the Austrian school-leaving certificate qualifying for university attendance (Matura). In 2007 58% of all high school graduates were female.

Less than half the school-leaving certificates were obtained at academic secondary schools (AHS). In 2007 the proportion was 42%. A large number of school students obtained their school-leaving certificates at vocational colleges.