Aarhus University has to reject nearly every other applicant to its Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering Programmes
Interest in Aarhus University's Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering programmes continues to grow, while the number of available study places is declining. As a result, nearly one in two applicants who have a BSc in Engineering programme as their first choice risks being denied admission.
The application deadline for higher education programmes closed on Sunday, 5 July, and preliminary figures show that the Faculty of Technical Sciences has received 1,436 first-choice applications.
This is nine per cent fewer than last year's record number of applications. However, demand for the Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering programmes continues to grow.
Compared with 2024, the number of first-choice applicants has increased by 19 per cent, and by four per cent compared with last year.
Many Applicants Will Be Turned Down
Like all Danish universities, Aarhus University is required to reduce the number of study places by 2032 following a national political agreement.
As a result, many qualified applicants will be disappointed when admission decisions are released on 28 July. In practice, Aarhus University will have to reject between 40 and 50 per cent of applicants whose first choice is a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering programme.
Vice-Dean Louise Møller Haase describes the situation as paradoxical.
"This is deeply problematic both for the young people we have to disappoint and for the companies that are struggling to recruit the highly skilled engineers they need," she says.
She continues:
"For years, we have been working to address the projected shortage of highly educated engineers in Denmark. Now, prospective students are doing exactly what society needs them to do. They are applying for engineering degrees in record numbers, yet we are forced to turn many of them away."
The pressure on study places does not end with the bachelor's programmes.
By the application deadline of 1 March, the Faculty of Technical Sciences had received no fewer than 1,172 first-choice applications for its Master of Science (MSc) in Engineering programmes, despite having only 491 places available.
Louise Møller Haase fears that this will have long-term consequences for Denmark as a knowledge-based society.
"The applicants we reject today are the highly qualified professionals we will be missing tomorrow. They are the people who could have gone on to develop artificial intelligence, drive the green transition, strengthen competitive manufacturing, build our defence capabilities and protect society against cyber threats. By educating fewer engineers, we weaken Denmark's competitiveness, innovative capacity and security."
Fewer Applicants for Winter-Start Engineering Programmes
The overall decline in applications to the Faculty of Technical Sciences is mainly due to fewer applicants for the winter-start Bachelor of Engineering programmes (BEng).
Louise Møller Haase is not concerned by this development.
“Applications for the bachelor of engineering programmes starting in the winter remain open until 1 November, so the figures we see in the summer often change considerably during the autumn.”
Continued Strong Interest in AU Viborg and AU Herning
At AU Viborg, the Bachelor's degree programme in Veterinary Medicine remains one of the faculty's most sought-after programmes. Although the number of first-choice applicants has fallen slightly, demand continues to far exceed the number of available places.
Interest in the Bachelor's degree programme in Animal Science has also grown, with first-choice applications increasing by 19 per cent.
The number of applicants for the Bachelor's degree programme in Plant and Food Science remains unchanged.
The students who choose the programmes at AU Viborg will play a key role in transforming agriculture and food production. We are pleased to see such strong interest, while continuing our efforts to attract even more students to these fields," says Louise Møller Haase.
At AU Herning, demand also remains strong for the Bachelor of Engineering programme in Electrical Power Engineering.
Most applicants have chosen to study online, and Louise Møller Haase welcomes the programme's ability to attract students from across Denmark.
"We have prioritised a fully digital degree programme designed for a new group of students who live far from a university campus. This supports our ambition to educate more engineers for the green transition throughout Denmark," she says.
Admission Decisions on 28 July
Over the coming weeks, Aarhus University will assess applications and offer admission to the most qualified applicants. All applicants will receive their admission decision on 28 July.
Note: This article is based on preliminary application figures. The final figures will be published later this week.