University of Tampere Survey for Third-year Students 2009

The survey, conducted by the University of Tampere for its third-year students in 2009, examines, among others, progress with studies, minor subjects and language studies, working during studies, financial circumstances, and planning of studies. Studies were first charted by asking the respondents which educational institution and field of study they had primarily wanted to be accepted into when they had applied and to what extent they agreed with a number of statements relating to studies and study progress (e.g. "University studies have met my expectations", "I have progressed in my studies according to my plans"). Things that had negatively affected progress of studies were charted. With regard to minor subjects, a number of statements were presented (e.g. "I choose my minor subject(s) based on my own interests", "Recommendations from other students have an effect on my choices"). Views on the language studies were surveyed (e.g. "There is an appropriate amount of compulsory language studies in my Bachelor's degree"). Planning of studies was studied with questions about support received from the university when planning studies and own initiative in searching for information supporting planning. Opinions on the usability and usefulness of study guides, curricula and other information sources were charted. Relating to grants and benefits, the respondents were asked questions about financial aid for students (which comprises study grant, student loan, and housing supplement). Questions probed, among others, the number of months the respondents had spent out of their eligibility period for financial aid, whether they thought the remaining months would suffice until graduation, whether they had taken a student loan and how much, and whether they had avoided taking a student loan for some reason. Regarding employment, the respondents were asked whether they had worked during studies, to what extent they agreed with several statements related to working during studies (e.g. "Studying and working at the same time is very stressful", "I work because I want to avoid taking a student loan", "Working takes up time needed for studies", "I don't work because I want to graduate as soon as possible"), whether they had worked during the academic year 2008-2009, and which field and sector they had worked in. The respondents were also asked which line of work they aimed at after graduation and later in their career. Background variables included, among others, the respondent's age, gender, field of study, school (faculty), number of credits, and length of internship/studies abroad.