Applications for healthcare vocational courses are on the rise, with 74,000 applicants vying for 38,184 places

Applications for degree courses in the healthcare professions are on the rise again. Ahead of the entrance exams on 16 September, the total number of applications has exceeded 74,000 for 38,184 available places – almost double the number of places on offer. For Nursing, there are nearly 21,500 applications for 20,672 places, representing a 14 per cent increase compared with last year. “This is a positive sign, especially after years of the healthcare professions gradually losing their appeal,” says Marco Ceccarelli, National Secretary of Coina – the Trade Union for Healthcare Professions.

Angelo Mastrillo of the University of Bologna provides an overview of the applications, pointing out that the figures are still provisional, as data from around ten of the approximately 50 Italian universities is still missing. Applications for Nursing had fallen from 22,957 in 2023/24 to 21,178 in 2024/25 (-7.7 per cent), before dropping further to 18,836 in 2025/26 (-11.1 per cent). This year’s increase is not yet sufficient to fully recover the levels seen three years ago.

Furthermore, physiotherapy remains one of the most sought-after degree courses; speech and language therapy, midwifery and medical radiography also attract a number of applicants significantly higher than the number of places available. “Nurses, physiotherapists, midwives, healthcare technicians and professionals in rehabilitation and prevention are indispensable to the National Health Service,” continues Ceccarelli. “The appeal of these careers cannot be limited to just a few professions: they must all be valued. If we do not improve pay, staffing levels, working conditions and the recognition of skills, we risk training young professionals who, once they have graduated, will choose to go abroad. It is not enough to attract them to university: we must create the conditions for them to stay in Italia”.

The promotion of the entire system will also be the focus of the event for healthcare professionals organised by MOPS – the National Movement of Healthcare Professions – scheduled for 19 September in Rome, in which Coina will take part.