Australian students are dragging out their tertiary education, with one in three failing to complete their degrees within six years. 

New figures show only 70 per cent are completing their degrees.

Melbourne University had the highest completion rates in the country, with 88 per cent of the 2009 cohort having completed their studies by 2014.

Minister for Education Simon Birmingham told 3AW Breakfast the figure had remained the same for a number of years, but it needed to be addressed.

‘We know a number of those students will change direction while they are at university,’ he said. 

‘It’s not all bad news in that sense, but we are keen to drive that down as much as possible, as it represents wasted time and money.’

He also urged school leavers to do their research and make informed decisions on courses and universities available to them.

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