STUDENTS WHO GRADUATED FROM OR COMPLETED UNIVERSITY OR PROFESSIONAL STUDY, 2020

A total of 33 284 students graduated from university study or completed professional study in 2020. The share of female students in that number amounted to 20 157, that is, 60.6%.

More female students among students who graduated from university study or completed professional study

Out of the total of 33 284 students who graduated from university study or completed professional study, 4.4% graduated from or completed the study at schools of professional higher education, 15.5% at polytechnics, 78.3% at faculties (9.8% at professional studies and 68.5% at university studies) and 1.8% at art academies.

The highest share of female students graduated from or completed professional study at art academies, 66.8%, followed by university studies, 63.2%, professional studies at faculties, 58.1%, polytechnics, 53.5%, and schools of professional higher education, 46.7%.

The largest number of students graduated from an undergraduate university study

According to the Bologna programme, the largest number of students, 33.1% of them, graduated from an undergraduate university study, followed by 28.9% who graduated from a graduate university study, 22.0% from an undergraduate professional study, 8.2% from an integrated undergraduate and graduate study, 7.6% from a specialist professional graduate study and 0.1% who completed an undergraduate short professional study. Out of the total number of students, 0.1% of them graduated from or completed the study according to the pre-Bologna programme.

The largest number of students who graduated from university study or completed professional study are in the 20 to 24 age group

Regarding age, the largest number of students who graduated from university study or completed professional study was classified in the 20 – 24 age group (48.1%) and the smallest one in the up to 21 age group (3.5%). There were 30.1% of students in the 25 – 27 age group, 7.5% in the 28 – 30 age group, 3.4% in the 31 – 33 age group, 2.2% in the 34 – 36 age group, 1.7% in the 37 – 39 age group and 3.5% in the 40 and over age group.

The greatest number of students graduated from or completed study in the field of Social sciences

In 2020, the greatest number of students graduated from or completed study in the field of Social sciences (41.2%), followed by Engineering (26.6%), Biomedicine and health (10.9%), Humanities (7.1%), Biotechnical sciences (5.8%), Natural sciences (4.5%) and Artistic field (2.1%). The smallest number of students graduated from or completed study in the Interdisciplinary fields of science (1.8%)

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Sources and methods of data collection

Data are the result of the annual data processing on students who graduated from university study or completed professional study at institutions of higher education in the Republic of Croatia in 2020. They are collected, either on paper or electronically, through the questionnaire entitled Statistical Sheet for students who graduated or completed university or professional study in 2020 (ŠV-50 form).

Coverage and comparability

The statistical survey covers students who graduated from university study or completed professional study at institutions of higher education in the Republic of Croatia. It includes both students who graduated according to the pre-Bologna programme and those who graduated according to the Bologna programme. Data are comparable to those from previous years.

Definitions and explanations

Higher (tertiary) education is carried out through university and professional studies.

Students are persons enrolled in institutions of higher education. There are full-time and part-time students. Full-time students are those who study according to a programme based on a full-time teaching schedule. Part-time students are those who participate in the educational programme while they work or perform some other activity requiring a specific programme and methods of performing studies in line with an operational teaching plan.

Upon the completion of the undergraduate, graduate or integrated university studies candidates are awarded the academic title, while upon the completion of the professional or specialist degree programme candidates are awarded the professional title in accordance with the Act on Academic and Professional Titles and Academic Degree (NN, Nos 107/07 and 118/12).

Institutions of higher education are university and faculty and art academy as its component parts, polytechnic and school of higher education.

Institutions of higher education can be public and private.

University is an institution that establishes and conducts university and interdisciplinary studies in at least two areas of scientific or artistic activity in a number of fields, as an autonomous and integrated process, indirectly or through its faculties, art academies and departments.

University comprises the following: faculties, art academies, departments and institutes and other units according to law.

Professional courses can also be taught at universities and their units.

Faculty is an institution of higher education, a component part of a university, where university studies are organised and conducted, and where scientific and professional work in one or more scientific or professional fields are developed. Professional studies can also be conducted there.

Art academy is an institution of higher education, a component part of a university, where artistic studies are organised and conducted, and where top artistic endeavours and scientific activity in the field of art are nourished. Professional studies can also be conducted there.

University department is a component part of a university where university courses are taught and where scientific, artistic or professional work in a particular field of science or an interdisciplinary area is developed.

Polytechnic and school of professional higher education are institutions that establish and conduct professional courses. Polytechnic is a school of higher education that conducts at least three different courses in at least three different fields and cannot have schools of professional higher education as its component parts.

University studies prepare students for performing work in science, arts and higher education, in business, public sector and society in general and also prepares them for development and application of scientific, artistic and professional achievements. University studies are organised and conducted at universities.

University education encompasses undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate study. In accordance to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), 60 ECTS credits measure the workload of a full-time student during one academic year. Study programmes may also be carried out as an integral undergraduate and graduate university study, whose completion brings at least 300 ECTS credits.

Professional studies provide students with an adequate level of knowledge and skills that enable performance of professional occupations and prepares them for direct entry into labour market. Professional studies are conducted at schools of professional higher education or at polytechnics according to the Scientific Activity and Higher Education Act (NN, Nos 123/03, 198/03, 105/04, 174/04, 02/07, 46/07, 45/09, 63/11, 94/13, 139/13, 101/14, 60/15 and 131/17).

Professional education includes a short professional study, undergraduate professional study and specialist graduate professional study. Professional studies last two to three years, completes upon passing all the examinations. Passing of the final examination and/or producing the final paper may also be provided by the programme of study. This brings students 120 to 180 ECTS credits. Exceptionally, professional study may last up to four years and students earn up to 240 ECTS credits.

Polytechnics or schools of professional higher education can organise a specialist graduate professional study lasting one to two years for persons who completed a professional study or an undergraduate university study.

The completion of a specialist graduate professional study lasting one to two years, passing all the examinations, producing a final paper and passing of the final examination bring students 60 to 120 ECTS credits.

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Published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, Ilica 3, P. O. B. 80
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Lidija Brković, Director General

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Suzana Stubičan Ćelić i Željka Zwirn Periš

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