NEWS The total number of applications for courses and programmes at Umeå University for the autumn 2010 term has increased by 17 per cent compared with last year, the most ever in the university’s history. The average increase for the entire nation is 13 per cent.
“It's incredibly gratifying that Umeå University is such an attractive place to get an education. Coincidentally I do not think it's strange. Umeå University maintains a high level of quality in all aspects, and we offer both a good study and living environment. We are thrilled that applications to our degree programmes have increased the most," says Åsa Bergenheim, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for undergraduate and postgraduate education.
According to Åsa Bergenheim, there is further explanation behind the surge.
“I believe we have managed to make the university better known throughout Sweden due to our marketing efforts,” says Åsa Bergeheim. “The close cooperation with Umeå Municipality to highlight the city of Umeå has also been successful. It’s also possible that being named the Culture Capital of Europe for 2014 played a roll. But certainly the important thing for those who choose Umeå University is that they know that they’ll receive a good education that future employers value highly,” she added.
The number of applications for bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes at Umeå University has increased by 19 per cent and the number of applications for single-subject courses increased 15 per cent.
The total of applications received for the autumn 2010 term are expected to increase as the trend in recent years has been that many late applications are submitted.
“We receive an increasing number of late applications. Last year, over 14,000 late applications for Umeå University were submitted after the 15 April deadline for domestic students, so the application figures that we have now is only an indication of how it will look like in the autumn. The number of students that actually enrol is even harder to predict,” explain Bergheim.
Umeå University received a total 50,073 applications this year, 7,302 more than last year—an 11 percent increase, according to figures provided by the Swedish Agency of Higher Educational Services (Verket för högskoleservice - VHS).
“This is very satisfying, and it shows that we are performing well against increasingly hard competition,” says Åsa Bergenheim.
A new record in the number of applicants to the 36 higher education institutions in Sweden has been set with 340,634 people in total, an increase of four per cent with 2009. Umeå University has also seen a four per cent increase of first choice applications
Contact person: Åsa Bergenheim, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for undergraduate and postgraduate education at Umeå University Phone: +46 (0)90 -786 79 49
E-mail: aasa.bergenheim@adm.umu.se
Photo: Mikael Lundgren
Editor: David Meyers