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Does Class Size Matter in Postgraduate Education?

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  • Gaggero, Alessio

    (Universidad de Granada)

  • Haile, Getinet Astatike

    (University of Nottingham)

Abstract

The paper examines the impact of class size on postgraduate grades using administrative data from one of the largest Schools of a Russell Group University in the UK. As well as estimating Fixed Effects models on the population of postgraduate candidates in the School, we exploit a policy change aimed at reducing class size to implement a regression discontinuity design (RDD). We find that class size does impact grades adversely overall; and the policy aimed at reducing class size impacts grades favourably. Our findings are robust to alternative specifications as well as being supported by the validity tests we conducted.

Suggested Citation

  • Gaggero, Alessio & Haile, Getinet Astatike, 2019. "Does Class Size Matter in Postgraduate Education?," IZA Discussion Papers 12628, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12628
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    Cited by:

    1. Kara, Elif & Tonin, Mirco & Vlassopoulos, Michael, 2021. "Class size effects in higher education: Differences across STEM and non-STEM fields," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    grades; class size; higher education; RDD;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

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