Sweden’s most sought-after courses are at Stockholm University

Stockholm University has never had as many applications as in the run-up to the autumn term of 2009. Nearly 11% more people applied to study at the University than in the autumn term of 2008. The Law Programme followed by the Business Administration and Economics study programme, is the most applied-for university course in Sweden. The Teacher Education courses have also seen a significant rise in applicants.

“We saw a huge increase in applicants in the run-up to the 2008 autumn term. That was largely due to the fact that Teacher Education courses previously run by the Stockholm Institute of Education had been incorporated into Stockholm University. But there is no equivalent reason for the increase in applicants that we are seeing now,” comments Mattias Wickberg, Administrative Director, University Admissions Unit.

The statistics show that more people are applying for Teacher Education courses. The University’s long Teacher Education programme has seen a 9% increase in first-choice applicants. In addition, the new course in Childcare for Preschool Teachers has had over 400 first-choice applications for its 30 places.

There were 1,179 first-choice applicants for Stockholm University’s long Teacher Education programme. That is an increase of 9% compared to last year. Some of the most popular specialisations this year are social studies for the F-6 school year (pre-school), Swedish/Swedish as a second language for the F-6 school year (pre-school), and history for school years 7-9 (ages 14-16) and upper secondary school (ages 16-19).

One in five first-choice applications for the Teacher Education programme apply for the standard pre-school teacher education course, which is still the most applied-for specialisation on the Teacher Education programme. Other Teacher Education courses at Stockholm University also have more applicants than last year. For example, the number of first-choice applicants to the Bridging Programme for Teaching (KPU) has increased by 26%. 

The Law Programme at Stockholm University is the most applied-for course in Sweden, with 5,926 applicants. The Business Administration and Economics programme has also seen a strong surge in applicants (almost 22%), making the programme the second most applied-for study programme in the joint admissions procedure.

Applications to universities and university colleges are administered via the online portal studera.nu, where alternatives are ranked. Stockholm University is often the first-choice study institution among applicants for free-standing courses and/or study programmes.

Women predominate amongst applicants. As in the run-up to the autumn term 2008, almost two thirds of applicants are women.

Text: Maria Erlandsson