Christina Egelund: We Have Forgotten the Importance of Language Skills

However, fewer people have chosen to apply for a foreign language degree programme, a development the Minister for Higher Education and Science calls 'worrying'.

The figures show that this year 5,138 applicants opted for humanities programmes. This continues the decline over the past ten years in the number of applications for bachelor’s programmes in the humanities, including foreign language degree programmes. This year, only 61 people applied for the standard German and French degree programmes, a drop of 13% compared to last year.

Once again this year, several of the welfare-related professional bachelor’s programmes are among the most popular. However, applications to Nursing and Social Worker programmes fell by 8% and 2%, respectively, while applications to Teacher Education and Social Educator programmes rose slightly, by 3% and 1%, respectively.

A total of 19,877 people applied for STEM programmes, an increase of 1%, while 8,546 applied for IT programmes, a decline of 4%.

The total application figures for this year also include international applicants, who make up about 10% of the total with 8,588 applications.

Read the note on applications to higher education (only in danish).

The Minister for Higher Education and Science, Christina Egelund, comments as follows:

- I’m delighted to see that this year once again so many people have chosen to apply for places in higher education. But I find it worrying that applications to language programmes have fallen further from what was an already low level — at a time when, in the geopolitical reality of today, our ability to understand each other should be getting better rather than worse. It’s very important for young people to develop their skills in European languages and cultures; these skills broaden our cultural horizon and mutual understanding. The European community and European cooperation are of vital importance for Denmark. I’ll therefore be looking into how we can give language programmes a boost, and at the same time offer more students the opportunity to acquire language skills as a supplement to their main field of study. The combination of strong professional skills and practical language proficiency is attractive to many employers — whether it’s an engineer who can speak German or a lawyer who has mastered French.

Important dates for applications and admissions in 2025

• Four times a year, application and admission figures for higher education are published on ufm.dk.
• 15 March: Deadline for Quota 2 applicants, applicants with foreign qualifications, and applicants to programmes with entrance exams.
• 5 July: This year’s total number of applications is announced, including applications submitted between 15 March and 5 July (which are assessed solely under Quota 1).
• 28 July: Admission offers for a place in higher education are sent out. The Ministry publishes the results of summer admissions.
• After 1 October: Late application figures are announced.

For further information:

For press inquiries, please contact the Ministry of Higher Education and Science press line: +45 72 31 81 81, or email: presse@ufm.dk