Student numbers at Aoraki Polytechnic's Dunedin campus dropped by 15% last year, but early indications are they will be steady this year.
The drop in student numbers at the Dunedin campus comes as the institution, which has its main campus in Timaru, has struggled in recent years.
Figures presented at its council meeting last month showed that as of the end of November it was forecasting a deficit of $2.379 million.
The polytechnic had 1287 equivalent full time students (Efts) as of the end of November, a 31.83% drop on the corresponding period in 2012.
Figures provided to the Otago Daily Times show the Dunedin campus did not fare as badly as the rest of the institution, with about 188 Efts enrolling last year, a drop of 15.7% on about 223 enrolled the year before.
Chief executive Alex Cabrera said numbers were expected to steady this year, with about 185 Efts enrolling so far this year, against a forecast of 160 Efts.
''We are still taking enrolments and we need to keep in mind that within the first few weeks students may withdraw or change programmes.
''We also have some programmes that have not started yet, with start dates throughout the year,'' Mr Cabrera said.
The certificate in media communication and diploma in television production communications courses were cut from its Dunedin campus this year.
