New Zealand universities have always had the same access for both male and female students, but over the last 100 years the proportion of females was initially about one-third, falling to around 25% in the 1950s. From the mid-1960s, it rose around 1% a year until females now outnumber male students - and graduates. However, the numbers of Masters and PhD degrees increased more slowly, and slower still has been the increase in the more senior academic appointments. There is considerable difference in science graduates, depending on discipline (e.g. biology cf. physics and veterinary cf. engineering).