Eurostat: Women make up 58% of 4.5 million EU tertiary graduates in 2024

Student enrollment and degree distribution

According to 2024 Eurostat data on higher education, 19.1 million students were enrolled in tertiary education programs across the European Union. Undergraduate education represented the largest single cohort in the bloc, with 59% of all tertiary students working toward a standard bachelor's degree. Master's degree candidates formed the second-largest tier, accounting for 29.4% of total tertiary enrollment across member states. Doctoral researchers pursuing PhD qualifications represented 3.8% of the higher education population. Together, students enrolled in bachelor's and master's degree paths constituted 88.4% of the overall tertiary student population across the EU.

National variation across member states

The combined proportion of bachelor's and master's degree candidates differed significantly among European Union member states, with several eastern and southern countries recording the highest levels. Poland registered the highest combined proportion in the bloc, with 98.5% of its total tertiary student body enrolled in either a bachelor's or master's program. Bulgaria and Lithuania followed jointly, each recording 97.4% of their higher education students within these two tiers. Croatia reported 96.9% in bachelor's and master's tracks, while Italy registered 96.3%. In Greece, 96.1% of tertiary students were enrolled in bachelor's and master's programs, while Romania recorded 96.0% of its students in these two cycles.

Academic disciplines and study preferences

Business, administration, and law ranked as the single most popular academic field among students in the European Union. More than one-fifth of all tertiary students in the bloc, exactly 22%, pursued degrees within the business, administration, and law sector. This field also produced the largest volume of completed degrees, accounting for 25%, or one-quarter, of all tertiary diplomas awarded across the EU. Other common fields of study included education, health and welfare, as well as engineering and construction. Arts and humanities was the only other academic discipline to secure a double-digit percentage share of enrolled tertiary students across the union. In Greece, subject preferences followed the overall European trend, with business, administration, and law standing at the forefront of student enrollment.

Graduation volumes and the gender gap

A total of approximately 4.5 million students graduated from tertiary education institutions across the European Union in 2024. Among the 27 member states, France produced the largest overall volume of graduates, finishing ahead of Germany and Spain. Women outnumbered men among tertiary graduates in every single EU member state without exception. Across the union as a whole, women accounted for 58% of all tertiary graduates, despite continuing to earn less than men in employment. In absolute terms, 2.6 million female students completed tertiary qualifications during the year, compared with 1.9 million male graduates. Greece reflected this broader pattern, with female graduates continuing to maintain a numerical lead over male graduates.