The number of university degrees obtained rose by 8.6% to 17,145 in 2006, data from the Statistics Office shows. The biggest rise over 2005 was seen in the number of post-graduate degrees, which increase 25% to 1,899.
According to the figures, two-thirds of the undergraduates completing their course were women. The sexes were somewhat more evenly represented among those obtaining post-graduate degrees. Moreover, figures from the Statistics Office also show that nearly half of all undergraduate degrees obtained last year were in social sciences and law. Social sciences were even more dominant among the obtained post-graduate degrees, as two-thirds of all masters' degrees and doctorates were in this area.