NEWS The total number of students that applied to Umeå University for the autumn term rose dramatically last year. The increase has continued again this year, with just over 9,000 new students expected to begin their studies for the autumn term 2010.
"We expect the fall term 2010 to be the best academic term in Umeå University's history. It is with great pleasure that I can ascertain that the strong student enrolment is continuing and that we are maintaining our position as one of the most attractive universities in Sweden," says Lena Gustafsson, vice-chancellor of Umeå University.
"But I also hope that the government, in their autumn budget work, takes into account that we currently educate more students than what our education budget provides for. With consideration to the difficult situation in the housing availability for students for this term, I would also like encourage all friendly Umeå residents who have an extra room to consider renting it to one of our new students," continues Lena Gustafsson
A new all-time high record of 445 incoming exchange students and about 200 independent students (mainly students enrolled in master’s degree programmes with English language instruction) are expected to begin their studies this autumn term. An introduction programme known as the “Orientation Course” has taken place this week with welcome activities and useful information.
See the programme
Autumn 2010 students arriving on exchange agreements come from the following nations:
| Australia 4, Austria 9, Belgium 13, Brazil 3, Canada 6, China 16, Croatia 1, Czech Republic 5, Denmark 6, Estonia 3, Finland 19, France 56, Germany 97, India 3, Ireland 17, Italy 27, Latvia 2, Lithuania 2, Netherlands 13, Norway 1, Poland 14, Portugal 4, Romania 6, Russia 15, Slovakia 3, Slovenia 1, Spain 24, Switzerland 4, Turkey 27, USA 12, Taiwan 2, United Kingdom 28, Vietnam 5 |
Contact person: Per Nilsson, Director of the International Office
Email: per.nilsson@adm.umu.se Phone: +46 (0)90-786 68 66
Mobile: +46 (0)70-236 62 30
For the autumn term last year, the university received 8,333 new students that had not yet previously studied at the university.
"This year we are estimating nearly 9,000 new students during the autumn, says Henrik Stenwall," analyst at Planning Office of Umeå University.
It is difficult to declare exactly how many students will be studying at the start of the academic term. However, there is an 8.2 per cent increase of admitted students to Umeå University.
"We will have a solid indication on how we stand on 15 September. We’ll be able to compare with the 2009 figures from the same date. Since registration nowadays essentially continues throughout the entire term, we will not have actual figures until the end of the term," explains Henrik Stenwall.
The median age was 22 for new beginning students last year, and the proportion of women was 60 per cent. 4 of 10 beginning students were enrolled in degree programmes, and the remaining studies single-subject (“freestanding”) courses. Programme students accounted for 65 per cent of the educational volume (number of inscribed higher education credits). Nearly half of the new beginning students were enrolled in studies with on-campus teaching. The remainder, typically those taking single-subject courses, studied online via distance education.
The total number of new beginning students that study off-campus (most via the internet) has risen dramatically in recent years, and the trend is most likely expected to continue. Of the 9,000 new students expected to begin their studies, nearly half will study outside of Umeå. Those students are enrolled in courses and programmes at Campus Skellefteå, Campus Örnsköldsvik, in Kiruna, Lycksele or via online and distance courses.
For more information about student statistics, contact: Henrik Stenwall, Analyst, Planning Office Phone: +46 (0)90-786 58 88
Mobile: +46 (0)70-245 77 81
Thursday 2 September between 10:00 am – 3:00 pm in the Universum complex at Campus Umeå.During lunchtime at 12.10 – 12.50 pm, Glesbyd’n will give a musical performance.Read more
Umeå Sports Sciences Centre, Umeå Fritid (Recreation) and IKSU Sport welcome all new sports students to Umeå University and Umeå – the City of Sport.
Sports students are invited to attend a special welcome event in connection with Student Sports Day on Wednesday 15 September starting at 9:00 am at Aten, IKSU Sport.
MSU - Medical Sciences Student Union
The Medical Sciences Student Union will hold registration for all new students studying at the Faculty of Medicine. Registration takes place on Monday 30 August and Tuesday 31 August between 10 am and 4 pm.
NTK - The Student Union of Science and Technology
No registration
US - The Umeå Union of Students (Faculties of Arts, Social Sciences and Teacher Education)
No registration
At the start of the term the University Library will launch a new scanning on demand service that provides improved access to the library’s older collections. The service is a part of a European library collaboration concering researcher-driven digitalization in which Umeå University is the only participating Swedish library. Earlier this year, the National Library of Sweden granted SEK 237,000 in project funding to Umeå University for the internet-based digitalization of old books during 2010.
"We see the project as an important complement to more large-scale digitization efforts," says Christer Karlsson, Project Coordinator at Umeå University Library. "Expansion provides us with an opportunity for researchers to clarify the management of our selection for digitization. It also gives researchers and students access to books from other libraries, old books which are not normally accessible only for reading on site, and then often only in special monitored reading rooms," he continues.
Contact Persons: Christer Karlsson, Project Coordinator, Umeå University Library
E-mail: christer.karlsson@ub.umu.se Phone: +46 (0)90-786 98 84
Mobile: +46 (0)70-699 66 23
Mats Danielsson, Head of Research Archives, Umeå University Library
E-mail: mats.danielsson@foark.umu.se
Phone: +46 (0)90-786 66 44
Photo credit: Elin Berge
Editor: David Meyers / Carina Dahlberg