More applicants to SUND through quota 2 – a solid foundation, but an early assessment

This year, SUND received 5,954 bachelor applications—an increase of 25% compared to last year. This is particularly remarkable at a time when the overall number of potential applicants is declining. However, it is still too early to draw final conclusions.

– It is encouraging to see a general increase in applications, especially when we know that the number of potential applicants in society is decreasing. This suggests that our programmes continue to have strong appeal, says Head of Education Merete Munk.

Psychology programme in Esbjerg off to a strong start

One key reason behind this striking development is the new bachelor's degree in psychology at SDU Esbjerg. With a total of 700 applications—150 of which were first-priority choices—the 75 study places will be filled from the outset.

– The strong interest in the psychology programme in Esbjerg is very positive. It shows that there has been demand for this programme and that we have made the right decision in offering it, explains Merete Munk.

Overall, SDU Esbjerg has seen significant growth, with applications rising from 343 in 2024 to 1,083 this year.

Key trends in the applications

Looking at the development of quota 2 applications over time, several notable trends emerge:

• General increase in applications at SUND: The faculty has received 1,200 more applications in 2025 compared to 2024—a 25% increase.

• Smaller programmes on the rise: Several smaller programmes, which have previously struggled with declining intake, have received more applications this year than at any point since the COVID pandemic.

• Unchanged distribution of qualifying grades: The proportion of applicants with grades above and below 7.0 has remained stable since 2019. This is particularly interesting in light of the new admission requirement of a minimum grade of 7. It remains unclear whether more applicants have chosen quota 2 this year due to these new regulations.

Despite the overall increase, some programmes face other challenges.

Public Health Science, for example, has more applications but has seen a decline in first-priority applications—from around 20 before 2020 to fewer than 10 in recent years.

Similarly, Sports Science & Health has experienced a drop from 106 applications in 2020 to a current level of 60–70 first-priority applications. However, the programme has generally received more applications this year, increasing from 118 to 140.

– We are seeing positive trends across many of our programmes, but there are still areas where we would like to boost interest. We are closely monitoring developments and working actively to strengthen recruitment, concludes Merete Munk.

The road ahead

The preliminary figures paint a promising picture of applicant interest in 2025, but a final assessment must await the further admissions process. A more detailed analysis will follow once all data is available.

You can read more about application figures for SDU here.