The Effect of National Service on Academic Performance at University

S ummary . The effect of national service on academic success at university was investigated by comparing the performance of groups of ex‐national‐service and ‘schoolboy’ undergraduates at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. The groups were equated on the basis of their attainments in the Higher School Certificate. For both Arts and Science students the percentage of ex‐national servicemen attaining an honours degree was less than that of the ‘schoolboys,’ the extent of the differences being greater (and statistically significant) in the case of the Science students. The percentage of ex‐national servicemen attaining a ‘good’ honours degree was also less. Again the difference was greater (and statistically significant) in the case of the Science students. In Science proportionally fewer ex‐national servicemen failed degree courses in their first year. Nevetheless, their subsequent record, as regards course failures, is inferior to that of the ‘schoolboys.’ In Arts also the percentage of ex‐national servicemen completing their degree without any course failure was less than that of the ‘schoolboys.’ Comparisons of course failures in the separate Science subjects revealed clear differences in favour of the ‘schoolboys’ in the agricultural sciences, mathematics (apart from the first‐year results) and chemistry. None of the ex‐national servicemen were admitted to the honours class in mathematics. Among the Arts subjects comparisons of course failures showed the differences in favour of the ‘schoolboys’ to be most marked in history and modern languages

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