The anticipated record intake at Aarhus University was confirmed as early as the first round. Approximately 5,500 applicants received a letter from the university on 30 July with an offer to begin a Bachelor’s degree programme.This constitutes an overall increase of 13% compared with 2008, and the intake has increased by 5% compared with 2007 – the previous record year.

The most significant increase this year is at the Faculty of Health Sciences (medicine), where 100 extra places have enabled the figure to reach about500 new students. However, the Faculty of Social Sciences andthe Aarhus School of Business have also experienced a considerable increase in comparison with both 2008 and 2007. The Faculties of Science, Humanities and Theology are once again at the same level as the 2007 intake, which is a satisfactory increase compared with2008.

The new Bachelor’s degree programme in Agriculture, Food and Environment is at the same level as last year.

See the total intake figures (in Danish only)

Pleased with stable development

Vice-Chancellor Lauritz B.Holm-Nielsen regards the record applications as a very positive sign for both the university and the city of Aarhus.

“We should be pleased that Aarhus University is such an attractive place at which to study, and I have no doubt that Aarhus as a university city with its intimate study environment also attracts many new students,” he says.

He is particularly pleased with the fact that Aarhus University is experiencing stable development as regards the intake of new students.

“Even last year, when there was a substantial decline throughout Denmark, Aarhus University managed well.This stable development makes it easier to plan future-oriented degree programmes,” says Vice-Chancellor Lauritz B.Holm-Nielsen.

Admission to vacant places begins now

Once more this year, Aarhus University has experienced numerous applications for subjects with a limited number of student places.This applies to subjects such as medicine, political science and psychology, but even with a record intake, there are still vacant places available for other studies at Aarhus University.

“We’re now beginning our admission to vacant places, where we offer qualified applicants admission to the degree programmes where student places are still available,” says Head of Department Eva Teilmann. However, some applicants will not be offered a student place this year,and Eva Teilmann has the following advice for them:

“If you’re one of the many applicants we’re unfortunately unable to offer a student place this year, my advice is very clearly to talk to a student counsellor and investigate the options for being admitted next year – or this year for a study programme that comes close to the one you would like.If you were not admitted to medicine, for example, and you’re interested in biotechnology and research, then it could be that you should apply to the Faculty of Science or the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, where there are vacant places in the biotechnological degree programmes.”

Eva Teilmann encourages all those who have had their applications rejected to contact the student guidance at the university and the Studievalg Østjylland guidance centre as soon as possible to clarify the way to finding a relevant degree programme as quickly as possible.

“If you’ve spent a couple of years getting qualifications for a particular degree programme, but have been unsuccessful – well it could be that you’ll find an alternative solution in the round of admissions beginning now,” she says.

Young people have shown the way

Vice-Chancellor Lauritz B.Holm-Nielsen is sorry about the numerous rejections the university has now had to send out.

“Of course, we’ve done all we could to admit as many as possible, but we naturally have to ensure the necessary educational capacity as regards lecturers, teaching facilities and – very importantly – the good study environment,” he says.

“It’s important that the young people don’t lose heart and the desire to get an education – that’s the way ahead, even though a rejection can make it difficult at first to see the light at the end of the tunnel.For several years, we’ve told the young people that education is the way ahead and the key to our continued high standard of living.The young people have now shown the way, which is why we should do much more as a society to make it possible and attractive for these youngsters to get a university education,” says Vice-Chancellor Lauritz B.Holm-Nielsen. He refers here to the increased demands currently placed on the universities’ research-based teaching and the low subsidy ratings affecting the social sciences and humanities degree programmes in particular.

The final admission figures for the Bachelor’s degree programmes will first be available by October, when the figures for admission to the Master’s degree programmes will also be ready.In this respect, Aarhus University expects to admit approximately 750 new Master’s students to the Danish School of Education alone.Altogether, Aarhus University expects to admit about 6,500 new students in 2009.  

More information

Vice-Chancellor Lauritz B.Holm-Nielsen
Mobile: +45 2338 2126

Head of Department Eva Teilmann
Direct: +45 8942 1055
Mobile: +45 2899 2427

Special contact person for each main academic area

Faculty of Humanities

Dean Bodil Due +45 6020 2740

Faculty of Social Sciences

Dean Svend Hylleberg +45 2338 2020
Head of Section Lene Hjøllund +45 2398 2103

Faculty of Theology

Dean Carsten Riis +45 2899 2237

Faculty of Science

Dean Erik Meineche Schmidt +45 2338 2376

Aarhus School of Business, Aarhus University

Dean Børge Obel +45 2020 7355
Vice-Dean Peder Østergaard +45 2679 8554

Faculty of Health Sciences

Dean Søren Mogensen +45 2899 2065

Faculty of Agricultural Sciences

Dean Just Jensen +45 4082 1680

Head of Press Affairs

Anders Correll
Vice-Chancellor’s Office
Aarhus University
Direct: + 45 8942 2331
Mobile: + 45 2899 2235