The number of students enrolled in postgraduate programs at Jordanian universities is raising questions about demand for higher education, amid changes in student numbers and admission requirements for some programs. These indicators need to be examined in light of the factors influencing decisions by both students and universities.
Data from the Department of Statistics, based on figures from the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, show varying enrollment levels in postgraduate programs at public universities during the 2023/2024 academic year compared with the previous year. Total enrollment rose from 25,129 students to 25,352, an increase of 223 students.
In detail, the number of students enrolled in master’s programs fell from 18,787 in the 2022/2023 academic year to 17,412 the following year. The number of PhD students also declined, from 3,904 to 3,844.
By contrast, enrollment in higher diploma programs increased from 2,435 to 3,978 over the same period. This change is partly linked to the nature and objectives of the programs offered and does not necessarily indicate that students shifted from master’s programs to higher diploma programs.
While statistical data provide important indicators of enrollment levels across different programs, understanding student trends requires linking these figures to regulatory and academic changes. This would help distinguish the impact of admission requirements and program structures from actual changes in demand for postgraduate studies.
In this context, Mahend Al-Khatib, Director of the Unified Admission Coordination Unit, told Al-Ghad that part of the increase in higher diploma enrollment was due to programs designed to qualify teachers before they enter the teaching profession. He stressed that the increase does not necessarily indicate declining demand for master’s programs.
This highlights the importance of distinguishing between academic programs aimed at deepening specialization and continuing an academic career, and programs linked to professional qualification requirements. The objectives and admission criteria of these programs differ, as do the factors influencing enrollment in each.
Regarding the number of students admitted to master’s programs in the current academic year, Dr. Dhafer Al-Sarayrah, President of the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission, said in comments to Al-Ghad that it is still too early to determine whether admissions have increased or declined before admission procedures are completed at public and private universities and classes begin.
Al-Sarayrah explained that comparisons with last year may show differences in enrollment numbers following the Higher Education Council’s decision not to allow students with a “pass” grade in their bachelor’s degree to enroll in master’s programs. He noted that comparing two consecutive years does not necessarily reflect a broader trend in demand if admission requirements have changed between the two years.
Al-Sarayrah expects no significant differences in the number of students admitted this year, but stressed the need to wait until the end of next week, the deadline he referred to, for a clearer picture after admission procedures are completed.
A comparison of enrollment data for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic years shows differing trends in the numbers of students enrolled in master’s, PhD and higher diploma programs at public universities. However, the figures alone do not explain the reasons behind these changes and are insufficient to conclude that there has been a sustained decline in demand for postgraduate studies.
Source: Al-Ghad
