Research Summary: Exploring the educational journey: a qualitative study of student completion in a part-time master's degree programme

Despite Norway's tuition-free higher education system, a substantial number of students do not complete their tertiary education, representing a loss for both individuals and society. Research on factors influencing master's degree completion is limited, though student completion in higher education is gaining attention. Existing political and institutional measures, such as funding, information dissemination, and organizational strategies for program coherence, have been shown to influence completion rates.

Why it matters

The issue of student non-completion, even in tuition-free systems, signifies a substantial loss of human capital and public investment. Understanding and addressing the factors influencing completion is crucial for optimizing educational outcomes and ensuring the effective utilization of societal resources allocated to higher education.

Key insights

• A significant number of students in Norway do not complete their tertiary education, even within a tuition-free system.
• Non-completion leads to losses for both the individuals involved and for society.
• Limited research currently exists on the specific factors that facilitate successful completion of a master's degree program.
• Student completion in higher education has become an area of increased focus.
• Completion is defined as the attainment of a degree or other certificated program qualification.
• Political and institutional interventions, including funding schemes, information sharing, and organizational strategies for program coherence, have demonstrated influence on student completion.

Source

Frontiers in Education — https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.1867551