A record high number of applicants are offered admission to the bachelor's programmes
With more new students a both the graduate and undergraduate level there is much to be happy about
Dear staff
As I wrote before the summer holidays, we can be pleased this year's application figures for the natural science programmes. The 2024 intake of new Bachelor is the best ever intake for our faculty.
We have offered admission to 589 new students, which is 5 % higher than in 2019 – our previously highest intake to date. These days we are eagerly waiting for the students to report back, and so far 88 % have accepted their study placea. It is one of the highest acceptance rates at the university.
It is always difficult to come up with well-founded explanations for this year's intake. Work is being done to recruit students for STEM on many fronts and by many actors, both locally and nationally. The many initiatives probably all contribute individually. It is remarkable and very gratifying that Chemistry and Physics have increased so much – the former is close to doubling.
Here, a Nobel Prize in Chemistry and a highly visible Nobel Prize winner in STEM contexts, as well as a Danish and very active astronaut in space have probably contributed to increasing interest in chemistry and physics.
The new programme in Artificial intelligence has resulted in more students for the IT programme, as Computer Science has largely maintained its number of applicants.
All degree programmes are being marketed to a greater extent than before. There is a steadily increasing activity on our degree programme webpages at sdu.dk.
I hear from the young people at home that we are doing very well on social media. This is something they notice, and people ask with interest about our programmes.
I therefore hope that everyone will enjoy this year's great intake figues. I would like to thank you for the great effort with marketing and recruitment activities.
Who knows, maybe it was just you who came up with a good argument for a student choosing one of our programmes.
At the end of the month, the new hopeful students will start, and I look forward to welcoming them.
Alongside the teaching, the autumn will be marked by the Master's degree reform. We are also starting discussions on the new pedagogical framework, which will ensure continued attractive education at our faculty.
We must continue to be an interesting and relevant educational choice for students for the next 50 years.
We are celebrating the faculty's 50th anniversary on Friday 16 August. I look forward to seeing you – and everyone is very welcome.
Marianne Holmer, dean