Fewer places on STEM degree programmes

The number of students entering higher education will decline in the coming years, meaning there will be fewer young people to draw on; furthermore, as part of the university reform, it has been decided that fewer young people will be admitted to university.  

A cap has already been placed on the number of students who may be admitted for the 2025 intake. This also affects technical and natural science programmes, which already produce too few graduates to meet the demands of the business sector and the needs of society.

The so-called ‘sector-based capacity planning’ means that universities as a whole have been required to reduce their intake by 10 per cent.

If we do not train enough students in technical and natural science programmes, who will then ensure our electricity supply, combat hackers, free us from the tech giants and ensure the development of artificial intelligence on the terms we want in Denmark and Europe?

Fortunately, many young people are keen to study engineering and natural sciences. More and more are applying. In 2024, the civil engineering degree was the most sought-after programme. But in future, more young people will be turned away. This is because the university reform is cutting the number of places on engineering and natural science programmes.