Aarhus University strengthens its engineering and IT profile with record intake

Aarhus University has admitted 7,441 new students and is thus roughly on par with 2023 – but with a small overall decline of 2 percent compared to last year. However, the figures cover a significant increase in IT and engineering, where the university has strengthened its position.

The Tech area in particular stands out in this year’s intake. A total of 1,409 new students will start at AU Engineering and AU Viborg after the summer break – 1,290 on the engineering programs and 119 at AU Viborg. A large proportion of students have had their first priority fulfilled, which testifies to the high demand and relevance of the educational offerings.

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“This illustrates how much potential we have to attract applicants from both Denmark and abroad to a subject area where there is a huge demand for highly specialized labour. That’s why it’s completely wrong that we here in Aarhus have a lower ceiling on the number of international student places than elsewhere in the country. We could easily educate more of the employees that the business community is crying out for,” explains Pro-rector Berit Eika on Aarhus University’s website.

Must reject applicants

The Faculty of Natural Sciences has admitted 7 percent more students than last year. The growth is mainly due to three new English-language IT programs – Computer Science, Data Science and IT-Product Development – which together offered 150 places. All places were quickly filled, and several hundred applicants had to be rejected.

Engineering programs are also on the rise. Programs such as Electrical Energy Technology and Health Technology have had particularly high enrollment. In total, 87 more engineering students have been admitted than last year – and several of the university’s Bachelor of Engineering programs still have places available, which means there is still the possibility of admission via the second round.

“We know that businesses in virtually all industries demand our graduates. And we know that Denmark needs more engineers to solve society’s problems with climate change, digitalization, defense, energy supply, food production and biodiversity. For years, we have worked hard to attract applicants to our programs, and it is therefore a paradoxical situation that we now have to close the door to dedicated young people in the university queue,” says Eskild Holm Nielsen, Dean of the Faculty of Technical Sciences, to the Aarhus University website.

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Although interest in engineering programs is high, Aarhus University has had to reject many qualified applicants. This is due to a politically set ceiling on admissions to the universities’ bachelor programs.

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