3,400 new University students started their academic year this morning.

They were welcomed by University Rector Juanito Camilleri who in an address underlined the need for a method to be sought for the long-term financing of the institution.

He insisted that the University's sustainability and autonomy needed to be protected and strengthened. 

"One must avoid a situation where the funds that this country invests in research are controlled exclusively by outside restrictive pressures. This would hinder academic autonomy and limit the progress made in research," he said.

"Investment in the University must include the renewed commitment to translate the fruits of knowledge into entrepreneurship for our country."

The rector announced that the old premises of the Faculty of ICT was being refurbished and would be housing the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Business.

He said that the University had purchased land formerly occupied by The Garden  Centre and a house near the main gate. The land would be used for the building of a University residence and community centre.

Prof Camilleri said the project would not be finalised for some years. At this stage the area had been refurbished to temporarily to host the Institute of Digital Gaming.

Thomas Bugeja, KSU president also underlined the need for sustainable investment in the University.  In his address he urged the students to be "bulldozers against prejudice, racism and ignorance in the country.

A breakdown of University statistics shows 2,328 new students for  undergraduate courses and 1,072  reading for post-graduate degrees.

1,406 will be joining Junior College.

595 international students from 81 countries are pursuing courses this year.

Total number of students is 11,097 of whom 4,710 are men and 6,387 are women.

The University is offering 780 courses including several new ones such as MA in criminalogy and BSc in  computational physics.