Italy: foreign students 3.9 % up, the Italian Ministry of University reports. With17.392 first-year students, 652 more than 2019/2020, the Italian academic system seems to hold the line.

Though provisional, recently released data from the Ministry (http://dati.ustat.miur.it/dataset/immatricolati/resource/e5dbae47-4a51-410b-8540-a37ed7bedd12) show the international attractiveness of Bel Paese was not affected at all by the COVID-19 pandemic. Quite the contrary, in fact.

After one full intake of virtual stagnation (AA 2018/2019), there has been a turnaround the following intake. This trend is confirmed for the current 2020/2021 academic year.

Data further show steady growth over the last decade. Since the a.y. 2010/2011, the number of international students has grown continuously, and rapidly. With 4.537 units more, or a full 35.3 %, the performance looks quite remarkable.

Overall, the first-year students in Italy in a.y. 2020/2021 are 327.071. This implies the incidence of foreign students is 5.3%. Not a staggering percentage, but nonetheless a remarkable result for a non-English-speaking country.

The growth seems in counter-tendency with respect to what is taking place internationally. Therefore the analysis needs be accurate once the data are definitive. Still, pretty good news for the Italian university system: e.g. in international rankings, where the incidence of international students plays a key role.

Photo by sterlinglanier Lanier on Unsplash

 

Academic Year	Male	Female	Total
2020/2021	7.439	9.953	17.392
2019/2020	7.282	9.458	16.740
2018/2019	6.599	8.970	15.569
2017/2018	6.572	8.919	15.491
2016/2017	6.035	8.345	14.380
2015/2016	5.503	7.815	13.318
2014/2015	5.380	7.522	12.902
2013/2014	5.178	7.780	12.958
2012/2013	5.186	7.879	13.065
2011/2012	5.309	7.547	12.856
2010/2011	5.186	7.669	12.855