Gender split in tertiary courses revealed in new report

There has been an increase in the proportion of students enrolled in 'stem'-related subjects - science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Photo / File

School leavers thinking about studying performing arts, agriculture or philosophy next year will likely have a near-even gender split in their course.

But those leaning towards nursing, teacher education or radiography will find their lecture theatres female-dominated.

And men will dominate the numbers in automotive engineering, engineering and technology and aerospace engineering.

A new Ministry of Education-commissioned report has detailed the gender split in 63 fields of study at bachelor level or higher.

Women accounted for 92 per cent of nursing enrolments in 2015, 84 per cent in teacher education and 84 per cent in radiography.

Male-dominated fields included several engineering fields and computer science (81 per cent).

Areas with a more even gender split included accountancy, chemical sciences, performing arts, philosophy, architecture, sport and recreation and agriculture.

Source / Ministry of Education

The report also looked at how enrolment numbers had changed since 2008.

The field of health had the biggest increase in the share of enrolments - up from 15 per cent to 18 per cent in 2015.

There was also an increase in the proportion of students enrolled in "stem"-related subjects - science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Engineering and related technologies increased from 4.9 per cent to 6.5 per cent, and information technology rose from 5.3 per cent to 6.4 per cent.

There was a decline in the proportion of students enrolled in the society and culture field of study (36 per cent to 32 per cent), and management and commerce (22 per cent to 20 per cent).

The Government has targeted funding at Stem subjects, including $97 million over four years to allow institutions to increase intakes.