Minister concerned: Admissions to foreign language degree programmes drop again
On Monday, July 28, a total of 59,957 applicants will be notified that they’ve been offered a place in higher education. That’s nearly 1,400 fewer than in 2024, a 2% drop compared to last year.
As was the case last year, welfare-related professional bachelor's programmes have accepted the highest number of new students. However, once again we are looking at a combined 4% drop in admissions to degree programmes in Teacher Education, Social Education, Social Work and Nursing. The largest drop is in Nursing, with 8% fewer admissions than last year.
Academic bachelor’s degree programmes show an overall 5% decrease in admissions. This decline is partly due to the fact that the 2023 university reform, passed by a broad parliamentary majority, aimed to reduce the number of students entering bachelor’s degree programmes from summer 2025, with a view to creating a better balance between the different types of higher education on offer.
STEM programmes, which are expected to offer strong job prospects, continue to see high admissions, with 15,500 students offered a place on STEM programmes. Admissions to IT programmes, which are also expected to offer good job opportunities, have remained stable.
In contrast, admissions to foregign language degree programmes have seen a 19% drop in admissions, continuing the general downward trend of recent years. This decline is particularly evident in foreign language programmes combined with business studies, with 250 fewer students admitted. Admissions to German and French have also fallen by 8*%, from an already low level.
However, the number of international students admitted to degree programmes taught in English has increased by 16% (309 more than last year).
There are still over 17,000 vacant study places across a wide variety of degree programmes, corresponding to more than half of all available programmes. Each of the relevant educational institutions will decide whether to offer these remaining places after July 28.
The five most sought-after programmes this year are: Social Education, Bachelor of Engineering diploma, Nursing, MSc in Engineering, and Business Economics.
The Minister for Higher Education and Science, Christina Egelund, comments as follows:
- First of all, congratulations to all the young people who will soon begin their studies in higher education. It’s encouraging to see that admissions to STEM and IT programmes remain strong—they are vital for developing the technological solutions our future depends on. The fact that welfare-related degree programmes are still among the most popular is also a positive sign, though the general decline in admissions emphasises that we were right to implement a major quality reform of these programmes. This reform is sorely needed. On the other hand, I’m seriously concerned about the continued drop in admissions to foreign language degree programmes. In a well-educated society, we can’t do without foreign language skills and a knowledge of other cultures. Action is called for, and I will be looking into what must be done to reverse this trend.
*An error .occurred. The amissions to German and French have fallen by 8 %, not 9 %. Adjusted in the text 28 July.,
For further information:
For press inquiries, please contact the Ministry of Higher Education and Science press line on +45 7231 8181, or email: presse@ufm.dk.
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