This study examines the socio-demographic characteristics of first-year students on first degree healthcare courses at Udine University (Italy). The survey tried to elicit useful information in a field where literature is scarce. Every student starting healthcare courses in the 2007/08 academic year was contacted and asked to fill in a questionnaire. Two hundred and sixty students were identified, belonging to six different courses: Nursing Sciences, Obstetric Sciences, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Neurophysiopathology Techniques, Biomedical Laboratory Techniques. Each questionnaire included 26 items (25 closed and one open) and had four sections: personal data, family data, training background, criteria affecting the decision to attend a healthcare course. The overall response rate was 87% (226 out of 260). Major findings were: women prevail on men (77% vs. 23%), many students chose these courses because some family member worked in the healthcare field (22.1%), 19.9% of students are older than 26 and 7.1% of them are postgraduates, 12% come from foreign countries, and job opportunities and former work experience influenced the choice of course. This database provides an important benchmark for comparing future trends among students in the healthcare profession in terms of socio-demographic characteristics and personal attitudes.