Breaks the streak: Decrease in first-choice applications to AU

On Sunday, the deadline for applying for a post-secondary education via quota 1 expired. According to preliminary figures (In Danish, ed.) from the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Digital Affairs, Aarhus University has received 31.043 applications, matching the number recorded in 2025. But if you look at the number of applicants who have had AU as their first choice, the number has fallen by four per cent from 11.961 to 11.498.

This is the first time since 2022 that the number of first-choice applications to AU has decreased. However, according to an announcement from AU, this does not come as a surprise to Pro-rector Berit Eika since 2025 is considered a "record year".

“Our society is facing several major challenges that require a highly qualified workforce – and this includes everything from engineers and IT specialists to upper secondary school teachers, lawyers and many others. So it’s encouraging that so many young people want to get a university education – and that they have chosen Aarhus University.  We can offer students high-quality education, dedicated and skilled teachers, and a unique study environment across our four campuses,” says the pro-rector in the announcement.

Drop for almost all of AU's faculties

Aarhus BSS has still received the most first-choice applications, with 4.594 applications, despite a decrease of three per cent compared to 2025. The same trend also applies to the Arts, Health, and Tech, which fall by one, six, and nine per cent respectively in the number of first-choice applications. At Natural Sciences, numbers are on a par with 2025.

More international applicants

This year, more applicants have applied to the degree programmes that are offered in English. According to the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Digital Affairs, these degree programmes have increased by four per cent. In addition, degree programmes taught in English are particularly popular with applicants from the Nordic region and the EU/EEA, with applications from these areas having increased by 26 and 10 per cent, respectively.

However, Pro-Rector Berit Eika is concerned that AU has to turn away many of these international applicants as a direct consequence of the cuts made to English-taught study places at universities across the country.

“We know that international graduates are a major asset to our society – and that we’re getting better at encouraging them to stay in Denmark after they complete their studies. Unfortunately, at AU, we have to reject many highly qualified international applicants, and that’s a real shame. Especially because AU has the country’s highest employment rate when it comes to international graduates,” says the pro-rector in the press release.

Among other international applicants, the interest in studying in Denmark has decreased significantly. This is especially true of the number of applicants from Bangladesh and Nepal, which has fallen by 42 and 80 per cent, respectively, compared to 2025. This is a result of the introduction of stricter rules for third-country citizens wishing to study at Danish universities.

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Overall, this is a development that is welcomed by the Minister for Science, Higher Education and Digital Affairs, Christina Egelund.

"That's why I'm also pleased that more people from the Nordic region and the EU are applying for degree programmes in Denmark. At the same time, we are seeing the number of applicants from third countries fall to a more balanced level. This indicates that our measures are working when it comes to ensuring that all international students on our degree programmes are qualified," says the minister in a press release.

On Tuesday, 28 July, all applicants will receive an answer as to whether they will be offered a place at AU.

This text is machine translated and post-edited by Mie Skov Jeppesen.