A good BA intake in 2026

Welcome back after what I hope has been a wonderful summer!

I have not exactly been keeping it to myself. So one or two people may have noticed that I am keen to see SDU admitting talented students. Students who have the skills and competences to complete a long-cycle higher education programme in a way that will make them sought-after graduates. Students whose contributions make the discussions in the classroom livelier and more rigorous. I do not mind at all that we admit a large number of students. To put it bluntly, they just have to be skilled.

In this light, we have reason to be very satisfied with the BA intake in 2026. As always, there is some variation across programmes – for some, the development is positive, for others it is negative – but overall, we have every reason to believe that we at SDU are admitting better and better students these years.

In total, we have admitted 136 fewer students than in 2025. A very modest decline from 4,415 to 4,279 students. However, there is every indication that the cohort of students who will soon be populating our campuses around the Region will be competent and qualified to complete a ‘research-based education up to the highest international level’, as stated in the Danish University Act.

Firstly, we have – on average – admitted students with a significantly higher grade point average from their qualifying education than previously. In 2021, the BA students we admitted via quota 1 had a grade point average of 8.1 from their qualifying education; in 2024, this figure was 8.6. This year, the students admitted via quota 1 had a grade point average of 9.1. This is very satisfactory and, all other things being equal, it means that we can expect to have an even more talented student population.

Secondly – and relatedly – we have admitted significantly fewer students with a grade point average of less than 7.0 from their qualifying education. SDU still has a relatively large quota 2 intake compared to the rest of the sector but the proportion of students who are accepted with a low grade point average from STX or similar is decreasing rapidly. In 2021, we admitted 1,514 students with a grade point average of less than 7.0; in 2026, the number is 668. This corresponds to a decrease of no less than 56 per cent.

Finally – and thirdly – this year, 31 out of 84 programmes had an admission grade point average. In 2025, 17 out of 80 programmes had an admission grade point average. Of course, there are many ways of achieving an admission grade point average; nevertheless, admission grade point averages show future applicants that we at SDU strive to admit competent and talented young people. This suits us very well.

The development in intake in recent years is remarkable – not least in light of a demographic development characterised by smaller and smaller youth cohorts. But this development has not happened of its own accord. A series of initiatives have contributed to our overall stronger student population today. We have – among other things – introduced a grade requirement of 7 for quota 1, reduced the capacity of programmes with quality challenges, discontinued programmes, raised the passing score in the university entrance exam for quota 2, and we have also launched five signature programmes with reduced intakes.

That being said, the grade point average from the qualifying education is obviously not the only measure of talent or academic aptitude. Nevertheless, the grade point average provides an important indication of the academic qualifications that students have when they enter the University. At the same time, it is important to keep in mind that the goal of the various initiatives is not to make the University less accessible. The ambition is to ensure that the students we admit to SDU have the best conditions to succeed in their education.

All in all, there is good reason to be very satisfied with this year’s BA intake. Admittedly, some education programmes are having a hard time. But at SDU level, we are moving towards a stronger and stronger student population. This is a good thing. Not least if, like me, you believe that the road to value creation is paved with high quality.