ACADEMIC PROFILE OF STUDENTS IN RELATION TO THE EXPANSION OF STATE-FUNDED ADMISSION PLACES

Sergiu BALACCI,Ion BALAN,Universitatea de Stat din Moldova,Universitatea Tehnică a Moldovei

Abstract

This study examines the dynamics of admissions to the Veterinary Medicine study program during the period 2024-2026, highlighting a significant increase in enrollments in state-funded places alongside a decline in fee-paying admissions. This numerical expansion of the student cohort is accompanied by a moderate decrease in admission grade averages, suggesting an inverse relationship between increased access and the overall level of academic performance. Gender distribution indicates a consistent predominance of female students, who systematically achieve higher academic results compared to their male counterparts. From the perspective of educational background, high school graduates constitute the majority, while other categories, although often demonstrating higher admission averages, remain underrepresented. Overall, the findings reflect the favorable impact of educational policies on the attractiveness of the program, while also emphasizing the need to strengthen academic support mechanisms in order to maintain quality standards under conditions of expanded access to higher education. Keywords: university admission, veterinary medicine, academic performance, funding scheme, state-funded pla- ces, tuition-based studies, gender distribution.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59295/sum1(191)2026_14