More than a quarter of students at Middlesex University never complete their courses, according to new figures.
Some 26 per cent of students leave before finishing their degrees, making Middlesex among the ten worst universities in the country for dropout rates.
The new research, published by the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFC) on Wednesday last week, examined undergraduates entering university between 1998 and 2000.
It found Cambridge had the lowest projected dropout rate of one per cent. The University of North London came bottom of the table, with a staggering 41 per cent of students failing to complete their courses.
Across the UK, more than one in six students 16 per cent are expected to fail to complete their courses.
HEFC figures show nearly all Middlesex's 23,000 students came from the state sector just four per cent were from public schools and 36 per cent came from poorer social backgrounds.
The university, which has campuses in Cockfosters and Hendon, prides itself in its diverse racial and social intake.
A Middlesex spokeswoman said the 'modular' nature of many of the university's courses saw students switching degrees. This was still counted as a dropout.
"Middlesex University allows its students to build up credits as they progress through their studies," she said.
"The flexibility of modular study means that if, for any reason, students have to interrupt their studies, their academic credit will be held while they are away."
In 1998 to 1999, 20 per cent of students dropped out. Of those ten per cent resumed study the following academic year, she added.
December 21, 2001 16:00
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