First-Year University Students: How Many Are There?

The number of first-year university students globally is difficult to determine as it depends on how first-year is defined. If we take the definition of first-year to mean students in their first year of tertiary education, then there were over 6.4 million international students in 2021, up from 2 million in 2000. This number includes students on short exchange or study-abroad trips, as well as those enrolled in degree programs.

In the US, around 19 million students attended colleges or universities in 2022, including non-degree-granting institutions. Of these, 11.5 million attended full-time, and 7.4 million attended part-time.

First-year university students in the US: 18.58 million in 2022

In 2022, there were approximately 18.58 million college students in the US. Of these, about 13.49 million were enrolled in public colleges, and 5.09 million were enrolled in private colleges. This figure includes all college students, not just those in their first year. However, assuming that the college population is equally distributed across the years of study, we can estimate that there were around 4.645 million first-year university students in the US in 2022.

College enrollment in the US has generally declined over the past decade. In the fall of 2023, almost 18.1 million students were enrolled in degree-granting colleges and universities in the US. This represents a slight decrease from the 2022 figure. The total college enrollment (both graduate and undergraduate) fell by 4% from the fall of 2019 to the fall of 2023. Undergraduate enrollment decreased by 5.6% during the same period, while enrollment at community colleges fell by 12%.

Despite the overall decline in college enrollment, graduate enrollment has increased by 4.8%. In 2022, about 62% of people who completed high school or earned a GED certificate immediately enrolled in college. Additionally, about 39% of all 18-24-year-olds were enrolled in a post-secondary program in 2022. This represents an increase of about 10 percentage points since the late 1980s. However, since 2010, the college enrollment rate has remained relatively constant.

First-year students in the UK: known as 'freshers'

First-year students in the UK, known as freshers, are people in their first year at university. The term is derived from the idea that these students are all 'fresh' from college or university and that university marks a 'fresh start' for them.

In the UK, the annual period of university student orientation is called Freshers Week. This period usually lasts from 4 days to 2 weeks and welcomes first-year students to their new universities with various events, parties, and networking opportunities. It usually takes place right before the start of the term to give new students a chance to get to know their classmates and explore their new city. While Freshers Week is famous for its parties and drunken nights, it also offers freshers the chance to join university societies and meet new people through events like 'Freshers Fairs' and 'Society Fairs'.

In 2022-23, there were an estimated 2.94 million students enrolled in higher education courses in the UK, the highest number during the provided time period. This number includes first-year students or freshers, most of whom are full-time students studying for their first degrees.

First-year students in Germany: known as 'Erstsemester' or 'Ersti'

In Germany, a first-year student at university is called a "freshman", "first year", or "frosh", as in many other countries. However, the German term for a first-semester student is "Erstsemester", or more commonly, "Ersti", with "erst" meaning "first" and the "-i" adding a benevolently diminutive tone. The plural of "Ersti" is "Erstis". Unlike the word "freshman", which refers to a student's entire first year, "Ersti" is only used for students in their first semester. Students in higher semesters are called "Zweitsemester", "Drittsemester", "Viertssemester", etc.

The first week of university for freshmen in Germany is called "Ersti-Woche". During this week, freshmen are introduced to the university and given important information, such as how to log in to the university website, borrow books from the library, and find classrooms on campus. They are also told about payment methods for the cafeteria and sports or other fun activities available. Freshmen are divided into small groups of six, with three students from higher semesters, and are given a tour of the campus and classrooms. They are also provided with tips on how to prepare for their subjects and effective learning strategies. At the end of the week, freshmen receive an "Erstitüte", which is a textile bag containing items like a shirt with the university logo, a notebook, pens, and coupons for local businesses.

The "Ersti-Woche" is organized by the General Students Committee (AStA) and aims to help new students settle into university life, get to know their fellow classmates, and learn about life in their new city.

First-year students in France: known as 'cagne' in elite institutions

In some elite institutions in France, first-year students are known by the term "cagne", derived from the Middle French phrase "weighed down by books". This term is used in contrast to the more common freshman, which is used in many countries to refer to first-year students.

The French education system is highly centralized and consists of three stages: primary, secondary, and higher education. Formal schooling starts as early as age three, with kindergarten (maternelle) and day care (pré-maternelle) available from age two. By age six, children in France are required to be enrolled in school. Primary school consists of five years of study, similar to elementary school in the US.

After primary school, students move on to the secondary level, which is divided into two stages: collège and lycée. Collège lasts for four years, from ages 11 to 15, and is comparable to US middle school. Lycée, or high school, provides the final three years of secondary education, culminating in the baccalauréat (bac) qualification, which is similar to the US high school diploma but requires preparatory study.

Following the completion of their lycée education, students can choose to pursue either a vocational or an academic diploma. Vocational diplomas include the DUT (diplôme universitaire de technologie) and BTS (brevet de technicien supérieur), which are two-year technology-oriented degrees. Academic diplomas are offered by three types of higher education institutions in France: universities, Grandes Écoles, and specialized schools.

Grandes Écoles are selective public and private institutions that offer specialized courses in areas such as business, public administration, and engineering. Students are admitted based on their scores on a competitive exam, and they often take a two-year preparatory course beforehand. These institutions typically grant master's degrees upon completion.

In summary, the term "cagne" is used in some elite French institutions to refer to first-year students, who are navigating their way through the highly centralized French education system, which offers a range of academic and vocational pathways for students to pursue their interests and aspirations.

First-year students in Brazil: known as 'calouros' or 'bixos/bixetes'

In Brazil, first-year university students are known as "calouros", or more informally as "bixos" (for boys) or "bixetes" (for girls). The term is an alternate spelling of "bicho", which means "animal" or, more commonly, "bug".

Calouros are often subjected to hazing, known as "trote" (literally "prank") in Brazil. Hazing rituals have a long history in the country, with the first known episode dating back to 1831 at the Law School of Olinda, which resulted in the death of a student. In recent times, hazing has continued to be an issue, with several incidents receiving national media attention, including the death of a student at the University of São Paulo Medicine School in 1999.

The term "calouros" reflects the unique cultural context of Brazil and demonstrates the importance placed on the transition to university life. It is worth noting that hazing rituals are not universally accepted and have faced increasing scrutiny due to concerns over student safety and well-being.

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