The number of students who graduated from institutions of higher education in Croatia in 2009 rose by nearly 18 per cent in relation to 2008, according to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics.
Out of the total number of students, 52.1% graduated according to the "old" programme, while 47.9% graduated according to the Bologna Process.
Out of the graduated students, 73.9% were full-time and 26.1% part-time students. Out of the full-time students, 65.9% had their tuition fees subsidised, while 34.1% self-financed their tuition fees.
Most of the students, 73.9%, graduated from universities, 10.7% from polytechnics and 6.4% from other institutions of higher education.
Regarding their age, most of the students, 44.5%, were in the 21-23 age group, while only 4.4% were under 21 years of age; 28% were in the 24-26 age group, 9.4% in the 27-29 age group, and 13.7% in the 30-and-over age group.
The share of female students who graduated in 2009 was 58.6%.
The number of students who completed their postgraduate studies in 2009 according to either the old or new programme and earned a master's degree was 965, while the number of those who gained a doctoral degree was 572.
Most students completed their postgraduate studies at the University of Zagreb, where 77.6% obtained a doctoral degree and 65.4% attained the academic title of master of science, master or specialist.
Most of the doctoral theses were written in the field of biomedicine and health -- 22.5%, while most of the master's theses were written in the field of social sciences -- 61.6%.
A total of 7.9% of candidates received a doctoral degree from the University of Rijeka, 6.6% from the University of Split, 5.8% from the University of Osijek, and 1.9% from the University of Zadar, and 0.2% from the University of Pula.
The average age of candidates who earned a master's degree was 36.2 year and the share of women among them was 57.7%. The average of candidates who earned a doctoral degree was 38.1% and the share of women among them was 46.9%.
