The age of graduation from the university in Finland is seen as a problem. This is because, for one, the population is ageing and it is important to lengthen the period of working life (Opetusministeriön työryhmämuistioita ja selvityksiä 2003: 27). Secondly the students in Finland graduate are on average older age than in other OECD-countries (Opetusministeriön työryhmien muistioita 39:2002). The two main reasons behind the age of graduation are seen to be the age at which students start their studies in the universities and the duration of studies and attempts at lowering the graduation age have focused on these two aspects (Opetusministeriön työryhmämuistioita ja selvityksiä 2003: 27). However, previous research has shown that the picture of age and its impact is not so straightforward. For instance, age of the student has been shown to have a connection with the credits studied and the speed with which they are studied (Mäkinen 2005). This study focuses on the age of graduation from higher education and seeks to find out what are the factors that are connected with it as well as how they are connected with it.

Presented study is a part of a Ph.D. study focusing on time-to-degree and issues related to it. In the study an ex post facto criterion group design was used, where the criterion group consisted of students, whose time to the completion of a master’s degree was among the 18% fastest graduates in their respective faculties. The control group was collected using a stratified sampling method and consisted of students whose time to a master’s degree was either average or slower than average in their respective faculties. Both groups had approximately 520 graduates. All students graduated from the six faculties of the University of Turku in the years 1999-2001. These faculties are Medicine, Law, Education, Natural sciences, Humanities and Social sciences. The data was collected by a survey conducted to both groups in 2002 consisting of questions about their background, approach to their studies and so forth. Also statistics on the graduates’ time-to-degree, credits gained and thesis’ grades were used.

The results indicate that indeed the starting age and the duration of studies are the clearest indicators of the age of graduation. Study strategies and priorities also had an impact and so did social capital, cultural capital and financial background of the student. This study shows that the picture concerning the age of graduation is in need of a review, as it seems to be more complex than was previously considered.