UNIVERSITY SPECIALISTS, 2025

According to the data of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, 705 university specialists obtained their academic degree in 2025. The share of women in that number amounted to 444, that is, 63.0%.

More women than men among university specialists

Out of the total number of university specialists, 62.0% completed a university specialist study at the University of Zagreb, 15.7% at the University of Rijeka, 10.1% at the University of Osijek, 4.7% at the University of Split, 4.3% at the Libertas International University, Zagreb, 1.4% at the University North, Koprivnica, 1.1% at the University of Zadar, 0.4% at the University of Pula – Pola and 0.3% at the University of Slavonski Brod.

The highest share of female university specialists obtained their degree at the University of Zadar (100%), followed by the Libertas International University, Zagreb (73.3%), the University of Osijek (69.0%), the University of Pula – Pola (66.7%), the University of Zagreb (63.2%), the University of Split (60.6%), the University North, Koprivnica (60.0%), and the University of Rijeka (55.0%). There were no female university specialists at the University of Slavonski Brod.

Biomedicine and health – the most often chosen field of specialist theses

In 2025, the largest number of specialist theses were from scientific fields (90.6%), followed by the interdisciplinary fields of science (7.1%) and the artistic field (2.3%). In the scientific field, the largest number of specialist theses was from the field of Biomedicine and health (39.9%), followed by Social sciences (38.7%), Engineering (7.7%), Biotechnical sciences (2.4%), Humanities (1.8%) and Natural sciences (0.1%). University specialists produced 7.1% of specialist theses in the interdisciplinary fields of science. In the artistic field, the largest number of specialist theses was from the interdisciplinary artistic field (2.0%), while the fewest specialist theses were from the field of musical art (0.3%).

The majority of university specialists were in the 30 – 34 age group

Regarding age, the largest number of all university specialists were classified in the 30 – 34 age group (30.8%) and the smallest one in the 50-and-over age group (10.2%). There were 10.7% of university specialists in the up-to-29 age group, 21.1% in the 35 – 39 age group, 15.3% in the 40 – 44 age group and 11.9% in the 45 – 49 age group.

Out of the total number of university specialists, 93.5% of them had previously completed their studies in the Republic of Croatia and 6.5% outside the Republic of Croatia.

The majority of university specialists were employed in Human health and social work activities

The largest number of university specialists were employed in Human health and social work (30.4%), followed by Public administration and defence; compulsory social security (21.6%), Education (13.2%), Professional, scientific and technical activities (8.2%), Wholesale and retail trade (7.8%), Financial and insurance activities (3.6%), Telecommunication, computer programming, consulting, computing infrastructure and other information service activities (2.6%). There were 11.0% of university specialists employed in other activities, while 1.6% were unemployed.

The costs of university studies were mostly paid by university specialists personally

The costs of specialist studies for 50.8% of university specialists were paid by university specialists personally, for 44.5% of them, the costs were paid by employers, for 2.0% of university specialists, the funds were allocated from the State Budget, while the costs for 2.7% of university specialists belonged to the category Other.

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Sources and methods of data collection

The data were obtained by the annual collection and processing of the Statistical Sheets for University Specialists (ŠV-80 form), which are filled in by university specialists upon attaining this title.

Coverage and comparability

The statistical survey covers institutions of higher education in the Republic of Croatia that establish and carry out university postgraduate specialist study according to the Act on Higher Education and Scientific Activity (NN, No. 119/22).

Data are comparable to data from previous years.

Definitions and explanations

Institution of higher education is every institution providing higher education that is authorised to establish and carry out a study as well as scientific highly qualified or artistic work. Institutions of higher education are universities, including adjoining faculties and art academies, polytechnics and schools of professional higher education. Institutions of higher education may be public and private.

Interdisciplinary studies cover many different scientific fields. They are conducted in cooperation by institutions of higher education and institutes.

University specialist study can be enrolled after the completion of a university graduate study.

University specialist with the indication of a particular area (Univ. Spec.) is a person who completed a university specialist study, prepared a final thesis and/or passed an appropriate final exam (ISCED, level 7). In exceptional cases, persons who completed a university specialist study in medicine, dental medicine and veterinary medicine attain the title of a university specialist, i.e., a university specialist with an indication of the area in question in accordance with the name of the specialist study programme classified according to the Ordinance on Scientific and Interdisciplinary Areas, Fields and Branches and Artistic Area, Fields and Branches (NN, No. 3/24).

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:
Marija Gojević, Josipa Jurić and Danijela Kurjaković

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