STUDENTS ENROLLED ON UNIVERSITY SPECIALIST STUDIES,
2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR

In the 2024/2025 academic year, a total of 2 201 students were enrolled on university specialist studies.

Out of the total number of students, 73.3% were enrolled at the University of Zagreb, 11.2% at the University of Osijek, 9.9% at the University of Rijeka, 2.1% at the University of Split, 1.2% at Libertas International University, Zagreb, 0.9% at the University of Zadar, 0.6% at the University North in Koprivnica, 0.5% at the University of Slavonski Brod, and 0.3% at the University of Pula.

More women than men among students enrolled on university specialist studies

The share of women in the total number of students was 1 485 (67.5%). When observed by individual universities, the highest share of women was at the University of Zadar (90.0%), Libertas International University, Zagreb (88.9%), the University North in Koprivnica (78.6%), and the University of Split (72.3%), followed by the University of Osijek (71.1%), the University of Zagreb (68.5%), the University of Pula (66.7%), the University of Rijeka (51.8%), and the University of Slavonski Brod (10.0%).

Social sciences – the most often chosen field of specialist studies

Regarding the scientific, interdisciplinary and artistic fields of studies, the most often chosen was the field of Social sciences (40.2%) and the field of Biomedicine and health (31.8%). Less represented are the interdisciplinary scientific field (12.8%), the field of technical sciences (7.9%), the field of humanities (3.0%), the field of biotechnical sciences (1.9%), the interdisciplinary field of arts (1.5%), and the field of natural sciences (0.9%).

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 (27.5%) and the smallest one in the under-24 age group (0.5%). There were 21.2% of students in the 25 – 29 age group, 18.1% in the 35 – 39 age group, 15.1% in the 40 – 44 age group, 8.9% in the 45 – 49 age group, 6.0% in the 50 – 54 age group and 2.7% in the 55-and-over age group.

By place of usual residence, 97.5% of students were residents of the Republic of Croatia and 2.5% were residents of other countries. By citizenship, out of the total number of students, 98.2% were the citizens of the Republic of Croatia and 1.8% 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, 98.5% were employed and 1.5% unemployed. Out of the total number of employed students, the largest number was employed in Human health and social work activities (35.3%), in Public administration and defence; compulsory social security (19.7%), in Education (10.5%) and in Professional, scientific and technical activities (10.0%). Slightly fewer of them were employed in Financial and insurance activities (5.8%), in Manufacturing activities (3.0%), in Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (2.7%), in Information and communication activities (2.6%), in the field of other service activities (1.9%), and in Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (1.7%), while in all other activities they accounted for 6.8%.

The costs of study programmes mostly covered by students personally

A total of 49.2% of students paid for their studies personally; employers covered the costs for 47.2% of students; for 2.2% of students the studies were funded from the state budget, and for 1.4% of students the method of payment fell into the category Other.

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Sources and methods of data collection

The data are the result of the annual data processing 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 2024/2025 academic year.

The data are comparable to the data from previous years.

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 Interdisciplinary Areas, Fields and Branches and Artistic Area, Fields and Branches (NN, No. 3/24).

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 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 carried out at the postgraduate level for one to two years. Upon completion of a university specialist study, a student acquires the academic title of specialist with an indication of profession (spec. with an indication of profession.). Upon completion of the postgraduate specialist studies in the field of medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and medical of biochemistry, the student acquires the academic title of university specialist with an indication of the profession (univ. spec. with an indication of the profession).

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, Acting Director General

Prepared by:
Josipa Jurić and Danijela Kurjaković

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