The Student Life Cycle Panel (SLC)

The Student Life Cycle Panel (SLC) is an amalgamation of the Panel of School Leavers and the Graduate Panel, which has been in existence since 1976 and has been surveying university graduates since 1989. In this nationwide survey project, school leavers and graduates are followed over several years of their educational and career path. People with higher education entrance qualifications who opt for vocational training without studying, international students and people who take up higher education without a school entrance qualification but on the basis of their professional qualifications are also an important part of the study. The study is being carried out by the German Center for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW).

Interesting information and results of the survey

  • The most popular degree programs

    The most popular fields of study among those eligible to study in 2018 are economics (12%), teacher training courses (11%) and mathematics/computer science (6%).

    (Survey of the 2018 cohort of students)

  • Difficulties in decision-making

    The most common reasons why prospective students find it difficult to choose their post-secondary education are the limited number of options (45%), admission restrictions (43%) and uncertainty about their own interests (42%).

    (Survey of the 2018 cohort of school graduates)

  • Positive assessment of own career prospects

    In contrast to students from previous surveys, students in the class of 2022 increasingly rate their own career prospects as very good or good.

    (Survey of the 2022 cohort of students)

  • Around four out of ten students feel well informed.

    Six months before leaving school, 41 percent of those eligible to study feel that they are fully informed about the various study and training options.

    (Survey of the 2018 cohort of students)

Unique features of the study

The Student Life Cycle Panel is a so-called longitudinalstudy. This means that groups of the same individuals are interviewed at separate times in their lives. Every four years a new cohort of pupils acquiring their "Abitur" or "Fachhochschulreife" as well as a cohort of higher education graduates is chosen to be studied. Repeat questionnaires take place one year after the first survey as well as biannually for subsequent studies.

The longitudinal character of the study offers a variety of advantages:

  • It allows analyses of changes and developments within groups of people within the same cohort as well as comparisons between groups (e.g. regarding the transition between school and vocational training, different career paths, life goals and values).
  • Keeping certain contents of the survey constant between different cohorts allows for the comparison between cohorts.
  • Additionally, changing clusters of questions can be added to gain timely information on current themes that are relevant to educational policy (e.g. the introduction of university tuition, international mobility, or the effects of the Corona pandemic).

Cohort 2018 Cohort 2021 Cohort 2022

Populations of the SLC

A central advantage of the Student Life Cycle design is the inclusion of participants attending higher education as well as people who choose to pursue vocational training or other activities instead of an academic path, despite being qualified to attend higher education. Additionally, there is a systematic focus on students that achieve their eligibility through occupational qualification as well as international and non-traditional students.

Students eligible for higher education

People who attain eligibility for higher education in the chosen graduation year through general education (e.g. at a "Fachoberschule", a "Fachgymnasium", a "Gymnasium" or a "Fachschule") or vocational schooling. The first survey is conducted half a year before their graduation.

College and University graduates

People who acquired their first occupationally qualifying degree or masters degree at a german, officially recognized university or university of applied sciences in the chosen graduation year. The first conducted one to one and a half years after their graduation.

Students through occupational qualification or entrance exam

Persons who attained eligibility to higher education through an additional occupational qualification, through concluded vocational training with subsequent job experience, or through an entrance exam. They have not previously achieved eligibility via school qualification (e.g. at a "Gymnasium") and have been enrolled at an officially recognized university or university of applied sciences.

International students

Foreign nationals who attained their eligibility to higher education abroad and are enrolled at an officially recognized university or university of applied sciences.