Gå til indhold

Another record-breaking year for higher education applicants

A total of 66,439 young people were accepted to higher education programmes, breaking previous records. Compared to last year, 1,138 more people have been admitted to higher education programmes in 2016. Minister for Higher Education and Science Ulla Tørnæs is pleased with the development.

- It is pleasing to see record numbers of people applying to higher education this year, but equally pleasing to see record numbers being admitted. I am particularly happy to see increased admittance to programmes that have good employment opportunities as I am focused on creating a better match between our education programmes and labour market needs. Admittance figures for 2016 are a good step in the right direction, says Minister for Higher Education and Science Ulla Tørnæs.

Highlights of programmes with good job opportunities include: significant increases in primary school teacher programmes (14 per cent from 2015 to 2016) engineering Bachelor programmes (12 per cent) and engineering Masters programmes (9 per cent).

All regions around the country have experienced an increase in admittance to higher education. The largest increase was 4 per cent in Region Zealand , followed closely by 3 per cent in Region Southern Denmark. The Minister for Higher Education and Science is pleased with the development.

- The Government is focused on creating a better balance in Denmark. Access to a qualified labour force across the whole country is a crucial prerequisite for growth and development. It is very good to see an increase in admittance to programmes associated with low unemployment rates, while also seeing the increase is across the country. It bodes very well for future growth and welfare, says Ulla Tørnæs.

Admittance to higher education

30. July: All applicants receive response to their application. Ministry of Higher Education and Science publishes key figures from the Coordinated Application System on ufm.dk/optag.

30 July: Available places: Programmes with still available application places can be found at ufm.dk/optag/ledige-pladser.

1 September: Most programmes begin (a number of programmes also have a start date on 1 February).

October: The result of the second round of admittance and therefore the final admittance figures are published. Between the first and second rounds, some applicants will reject offers, while others will apply to still available places.

Application and admittance 2016

There was a total of 94,744 applicants.
As of 30 July, 66,439 applicants were offered a place on a higher education programme.

Application and admittance 2015

There was a total of 93,924 applicants.
As of 30 July, 65,301 applicants were offered a place on a higher education programme.
65,289 applicants started a higher education programme by 1 October 2015.

For further information please contact:

Press Adviser Trine Søndergaard, tel: +45 7231 8009, e-mail:
Head of Division Jens Storm, Statistics and Analysis, tel: +45 7231 7982, e-mail: