by InTrieste
In a year that marks significant gains for higher education in Italy, the University of Trieste (UniTS) has reported record enrollment for the 2024-25 academic year, with nearly 4,000 new students enrolled in its bachelor’s programs. This achievement, a 15% increase over last year and a 40% rise from pre-pandemic numbers, highlights the growing demand for higher education in the region.
For the first time, women make up a notable 60% of UniTS’s freshman class, many of whom are opting for traditionally male-dominated fields such as physics, chemistry, and business informatics. This milestone aligns with a broader shift seen across Europe, where universities are focusing on gender diversity and STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to address skill gaps and foster greater inclusivity. In Trieste, more women are joining fields like finance and political science, disciplines that, until recently, saw lower female representation. Women now outnumber men in departments across the sciences, social sciences, and humanities, with few exceptions, such as Historical and Philosophical Studies.
Enrollment remains open for certain programs, including History and Philosophy, Literature, and Political Science, until late November — signaling ongoing demand. The rise in female enrollment reflects broader trends, with a new generation eager to explore a wider range of career paths traditionally less accessible to women.
A Growing International Hub for Higher Education
UniTS has also seen an unprecedented increase in international enrollments, with 700 students from abroad joining this year alone. This uptick reinforces the university’s appeal on the global stage, where Italian institutions are attracting students seeking an education rooted in strong academic traditions and international perspectives. This surge in foreign students follows a five-year trend of growth, partly driven by Italy’s efforts to bolster its appeal to global talent, offering courses in English, expanding housing options, and streamlining visa processes for students.
Locally, the university continues to draw a large number of students from the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, with Trieste as the most represented area at 25% of new enrollments, followed by Udine, Gorizia, and Pordenone. Yet, about 40% of UniTS’s domestic students come from other Italian regions, particularly from Veneto, Lombardy, Sicily, Puglia, and Emilia Romagna.
Demand Surges in Health, Engineering, and Economics
This year, demand for programs in health sciences, engineering, and economics has surged. Speech Therapy leads with an 87% increase in new enrollments, while fields like electronic and computer engineering (+49%) and international finance and business management (+40%) show remarkable growth. Compared to pre-pandemic levels, these programs have expanded by 80% and 154%, respectively, indicating strong interest in fields that bridge technological innovation and business strategy. Other programs with significant enrollment growth include psychiatric rehabilitation (+28%), literature (+23%), civil and environmental engineering (+26%), psychology (+22%), and physics (+21%).
“The rise in demand reflects a new wave of students drawn to programs with clear paths to employment,” says a university spokesperson. “Our health sciences and engineering programs have become particularly appealing as these sectors continue to grow in Italy and globally.”
This year’s enrollment patterns underscore a commitment to addressing Italy’s labor market needs while expanding gender diversity in critical areas, with women now forming the majority in traditionally male-dominated fields like chemistry and business informatics.
Adapting to Student Demand in a Post-Pandemic World
Italy’s universities have been working to address the challenges that emerged during the pandemic. At UniTS, the numbers speak to the school’s increased flexibility, enhanced support for students, and investment in high-demand fields. According to university officials, all spots in the institution’s single-cycle degree programs, which have enrollment caps, were filled, and master’s programs continue to enroll students with deadlines extending through March 2025.
For Italy, UniTS’s success story signals a bright future in education and a commitment to attracting students globally. With a large share of students drawn from abroad and a notable uptick in interest from underrepresented groups, the university is helping to reshape the country’s academic landscape — one that is likely to inspire others across Europe to build more inclusive, adaptable, and globally focused institutions.
