Graduates of the University of Bologna: the Snapshot Provided by the 2025 AlmaLaurea Report

Inclusion, attractiveness, and quality education: these are the three key features that emerge from the picture drawn of the University of Bologna in the latest AlmaLaurea Report on Graduate Profiles and Employment Outcomes, published by the AlmaLaurea Inter-University Consortium.

PROFILE OF UNIBO GRADUATES
The section on graduate profiles is based on data from over 305,000 graduates from 80 universities. Of these, 20,527 graduated from the University of Bologna: 10,570 with a bachelor's degree, 8,191 with a master's degree, and 1,766 with a combined bachelor's and master's degree.

The data first and foremost highlight the strong attractiveness that the University of Bologna continues to exert at both national and international levels. Indeed, 45.8% of graduates come from outside the region—nearly twice the national average of 24.5%. Specifically, 40.1% of first-cycle graduates, 53.7% of two-year second-cycle graduates, and 43.9% of single-cycle second-cycle graduates come from outside the Emilia-Romagna region.

The number of graduates with non-Italian citizenship continues to grow, now reaching 7.6% (up from 7.2% last year)—well above the national average of 5.3%. The percentage is particularly high among master's graduates (12%, compared to the national average of 9.1%). These figures reflect a strong upward trend in international enrolments, which this year recorded a 23% increase in new international students.

This attractiveness goes hand in hand with a strong commitment to inclusion, student services, and quality education —and the data confirm this. The proportion of University of Bologna graduates who complete their studies on time is significantly higher than the national average: 67.9% compared to 58.7%. More specifically, 70.9% of bachelor's graduates completed their degrees on time (national average: 58.5%), as did 66.6% of master's graduates (national average: 61.2%) and 55.6% of combined bachelor's and master's graduates (national average: 51.4%).

Another strength highlighted in the data—again in terms of international outlook—is the number of graduates who completed a study period abroad recognised by their degree programme: 15.7% in total (up from 14.4% last year), compared to a national average of 10.3%. This includes 13.2% of bachelor's graduates (national average: 7.8%), 18.7% of master's graduates (national average: 13.2%), and 17.3% of combined bachelor's and master's graduates (national average: 14.8%).

A very high proportion of students also undertook internships recognised by their degree programme: 61.9% of University of Bologna graduates, compared to the national average of 61%. This includes 57.7% of bachelor's graduates, 66.5% of master's graduates, and 65.9% of combined bachelor's and master's graduates.

All of this can be summarised in one final figure: overall, 89.5% of graduates declared themselves satisfied with their university experience at the University of Bologna. In particular, 88% were satisfied with the relationship with teaching staff. As for the facilities provided by the University, 84.4% considered them adequate, and 83.8% considered the workload of their degree programme to be appropriate. A total of 72% of graduates would choose the same degree programme and university again, while 14.9% would choose the University of Bologna again but would change degree programme.

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES OF UNIBO GRADUATES
The new AlmaLaurea report on employment outcomes includes data on around 690,000 graduates from 81 universities. Of these, 37,961 graduated from the University of Bologna. The analysis focuses on bachelor's and master's graduates from 2023 (interviewed one year after graduation) and on master's graduates from 2019 (interviewed five years after graduation).

Among the University’s bachelor's graduates (9,609 surveyed), 65.6% were still enrolled in a degree programme one year after graduation. Of those who had not re-enrolled in another degree programme (32.4%), the employment rate reached 76.8%—an increase from 71.4% the previous year.

Turning to master's graduates from 2023, 9,869 were surveyed one year after graduation (8,193 master's graduates and 1,676 combined bachelor's and master's graduates). The employment rate stands at 80.8%, up from 78.9% last year and higher than the national average of 78.6%. Overall, 19.5% of graduates continued in the job they held before graduation, 17.6% changed jobs, and 62.9% started working after graduating. Of those employed, 25.9% held permanent contracts, 23.7% fixed-term contracts, and 7.3% were self-employed.

The positive employment figures are even more evident when looking at the 8,847 University of Bologna graduates from 2019 who were surveyed five years after graduation (6,797 with master's degrees and 2,050 with combined bachelor's and master's degrees). The employment rate in this group reached 90.8%, up from 88.8% the previous year and above the national average of 89.7%. Among those employed, 55.4% had permanent contracts, 13.8% fixed-term contracts, and 14.6% were self-employed.

Where do they work? A total of 61.2% are employed in the private sector, 33.7% in the public sector, and 5% in the non-profit sector. The services sector absorbs 78% of employed graduates, industry 20.6%, and agriculture 0.9%.