STUDENTS ENROLLED ON UNIVERSITY SPECIALIST STUDIES, 2023/2024 ACADEMIC YEAR – Revised Data

In the 2023/2024 academic year, a total of 2 216 students were enrolled on university specialist studies.

Out of the total number of students, 76.9% were enrolled at the University of Zagreb, 10.0% at the University of Osijek, 8.5% at the University of Rijeka, 2.5% at the University of Split, 1.3% at the Libertas International University and 0.4% (each) at the University of Pula – Pola and at the University of Slavonski Brod.

More women than men among students enrolled on university specialist studies

The share of women in the total number of students was 1 447 (65.3%). Observing by individual university, the University of Pula – Pola had the highest share of female students (90.0%), followed by the Libertas International University (78.6%), the University of Osijek (72.4%), the University of Split (71.4%), the University of Zagreb (65.4%), the University of Rijeka (53.2%), and the University of Slavonski Brod (11.1%).

Biomedicine and health – the most often chosen field of university specialist studies

Regarding the scientific and artistic fields of studies, the most often chosen was the field of Biomedicine and health (39.7%) and Social sciences (36.7%). Among less chosen fields there were Engineering (8.8%), Interdisciplinary fields of science (8.7%), Humanities (2.2%), Biotechnical sciences (1.8%), Artistic field (1.1%), and Natural sciences (1.0%).

The largest number of students enrolled on university specialist studies was classified in the 30 to 34 age group

According to five-year age groups, the largest number of students was classified in the 30 – 34 age group (31.7%) and the smallest one in the under-24 age group (0.8%). There were 21.9% of students in the 25 – 29 age group, 17.6% in the 35 – 39 age group, 13.9% in the 40 – 44 age group, 8.2% in the 45 – 49 age group, 4.0% in the 50 – 54 age group and 1.9% in the 55-and-over age group.

By place of usual residence, 97.2% of students were residents of the Republic of Croatia and 2.8% were residents of other countries. By citizenship, out of the total number of students, 98.1% were the citizens of the Republic of Croatia and 1.9% of foreign countries. Out of the total number of Croatian citizens, 95.3% had previously graduated in the Republic of Croatia and 4.7% in other countries.

The largest number of students enrolled on university specialist studies employed in Human health and social work activities

Out of the total number of students, 98.8% were employed and 1.2% unemployed. Out of the total number of employed students, the largest number was employed in Human health and social work activities (38.7%), in Public administration and defence; compulsory social security (18.9%), in Professional, scientific and technical activities (11.5%) and in Education (8.5%). Slightly fewer of them were employed in Financial and insurance activities (5.5%), in Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (3.5%), in Manufacturing activities (3.2%), and in Information and communication activities (2.1%), while in all other activities there were 8.1% of employed students.

Employers mostly paid the costs of studies

Employers paid the costs of studies for 52.9% of students, 43.5% of students paid for their studies personally, 2.3% were funded from the state budget and 1.3% were classified in the category Other.

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Sources and methods of data collection

The data are the result of the annual processing of data on students enrolled on university specialist study. They are collected through the questionnaire titled the Registration Sheet for Students Enrolled on University Specialist Study (ŠV-30 form), which is filled in by students at the enrolment on each year of university specialist study.

Coverage and comparability

This statistical survey covers all students enrolled on university specialist study at institutions of higher education in the Republic of Croatia in the 2023/2024 academic year.

The data are comparable to the data from previous years.

Data revision

The data published on 15 January 2025 in the First Release OBR-2024-4-6 Students Enrolled on University Specialist Studies, 2023/2024 Academic Year on students enrolled on university specialist studies at institutions of higher education in the Republic of Croatia for the 2023/2024 academic year have been revised due to the complexity of the population coverage, as data from one reporting unit were submitted subsequently.

Definitions and explanations

The data relate to students enrolled on university specialist study in line with the Act on Higher Education and Scientific Activity (NN, No.119/22).

Postgraduate study programmes are classified according to the Ordinance on Scientific and Artistic Areas, Fields and Branches (NN, Nos 118/09, 82/12, 32/13, 34/16 and 56/22).

Institution of higher education is any institution of higher education authorised to organise and implement courses of study, as well as scientific research, highly professional or artistic work. Institutions of higher education are university, faculties, art academies and polytechnics. Institutions of higher education may be public and private.

University is an institution that carries out higher education, scientific or artistic activity and professional activity in at least two scientific areas or in a scientific and artistic area and in at least three fields.

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.

The university specialist study is conducted at the postgraduate level for a period of one to two years, resulting in the acquisition of the academic title of specialist for a particular area (spec. with an indication of the profession) or university specialist for the area of medicine, veterinary medicine, dental medicine, pharmacy, medical biochemistry (univ. spec. with an indication of the profession), etc. in accordance with the Act on Academic and Professional Titles and Academic Degree (NN, No. 123/23).

Academic year starts on 1 October of the current year and ends on 30 September of the following calendar year.

Published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, Ilica 3, P. O. B. 80
Phone: (+385 1) 48 06 111
Press corner: press@dzs.hr

Persons responsible:
Mario Vlajčević, Director of Demographic and Social Statistics Directorate
Lidija Brković, Director General

Prepared by:
Josipa Jurić and Danijela Kurjaković

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