The two pie charts compare the distributions of degrees in arts and science at different academic levels in the years 1980 and 2008. The categories include first degrees and master’s degrees in arts and science, as well as PhD qualifications in both fields.
Overall, the proportion of science degrees increased over time, particularly at the PhD level, while the percentage of arts degrees declined. Notably, the share of PhD science degrees rose significantly, whereas first-degree arts qualifications saw a sharp decline.
In 1980, the largest share of degrees was in master’s science (29%), followed by first-degree arts (25%). First-degree science (19%) and PhD science (13%) had smaller proportions. Meanwhile, master’s arts (12%) and PhD arts (2%) accounted for the smallest percentages.
By 2008, the distribution shifted significantly. PhD science increased to 30%, overtaking master’s science (29%), which remained unchanged. However, first-degree arts dropped sharply to 11%, while PhD arts increased slightly to 7%. The share of first-degree science (19%) and master’s arts (13%) remained relatively stable.