Umeå University increasingly popular among students

“The statistics are very pleasing of course, not only for the University but also for the region. The number of applicants has increased more at Umeå University than in the country at large, where it actually has reduced in this admissions round. This is positive for Umeå,” says Anders Fällström, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and responsible for education at Umeå University.

In Sweden, the total number of applications to the autumn admission has decreased by 1.9 per cent in comparison to 2015. Nevertheless, Umeå University increases by 1.5. Only the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Chalmers University of Technology and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) among the universities show a higher increase in percentage. Umeå University comes fifth in the number of applicants among Swedish higher education institutions.

“The high number of applicants per place, which we have maintained for several years now, can be explained by many factors. Foremost, it is related to the genuine work we have carried our regarding the courses and programmes offered, but also our way of communicating our educations,” says Anders Fällström.

The number of first choice applicants at Umeå University increases by 4.2 per cent to 30.842 applications in comparison to autumn 2015. This is higher than the national average showing an increase by 3.0 per cent in this admissions round. Umeå University has the fifth largest amount of first choice applicants. The most popular programmes at the University in this round was the Medical Programme, the Nursing Programme, the Master of Laws Programme, the Social Work Programme and the Psychology Programme.

“Application statistics first and foremost show how attractive and popular a university is among presumptive students. We will not increase the number of places on our study programmes to any significant extent, which means that we at the end of the day won’t register any more students. However, the increased competition for the places on our educations create improved opportunities for those who are admitted to follow through with their educations,” says Anders Fällström.

Facts on applications to Umeå University for the autumn term 2016

• The total number of applicants to Umeå University increases by 1.5 per cent in 2016 compared to 2015 which is higher than average, –1.9 per cent, and higher than most universities’ numbers. Only KTH, Chalmers and SLU achieve higher numbers in percentage for 2016.
• The number of first choice applicants to Umeå University increases by 4.2 per cent in 2016 compared to 2015, which is higher than the national average of 3.0 per cent.
• Umeå University has the fifth highest number of applicants in the country among higher education institution in Sweden.
• The total number of applicants to programmes at Umeå University increases by 2,944 applicants or 4.6 per cent in 2016 in comparison to 2015.
• First choice applicants to programmes at Umeå University increases by 990 applicants or 7.9 per cent in 2016 compared to 2015.
• The total number of applicants to courses reduces in 2016 compared to 2015 whilst the number of first choice applicants to courses increases.

For more information, please contact:

Anders Fällström, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Umeå UniversityPhone: +46 70-493 85 27
Email: anders.fallstrom@umu.se

Editor: Anna Lawrence