Denmark sees fewer higher education applicants

Denmark higher education applications fell slightly in 2026, even as more students chose welfare-related programmes such as nursing and social work as their first priority. According to the Ministry of Higher Education and Science (Forsknings-, Uddannelses- og Digitaliseringsministeriet), 84,043 people applied for a place in higher education by the 5 July deadline, a decrease of 2 percent compared with 2025. The figures cover first-priority applications submitted through Denmark’s coordinated admission system (Den Koordinerede Tilmelding, KOT). Applicants will receive their admission results on 28 July. Welfare education attracts more applicants The overall decline masks a different trend in Denmark’s main welfare professions. Applications to the four large welfare-oriented professional bachelor programmes increased by 2 percent compared with last year. The strongest rise was recorded in social work, where applications increased by 8 percent, from 2,152 in 2025 to 2,325 in 2026. Nursing also grew, with applications up 5 percent, from 3,348 to 3,500. By contrast, applications for primary and lower-secondary school teacher education fell by 1 percent, from 2,527 to 2,509. The pedagogue education, which trains professionals for childcare, social education and welfare institutions, also fell by 1 percent, from 4,011 to 3,988. The figures are politically relevant in Denmark, where … The post Denmark sees fewer higher education applicants appeared first on NordiskPost .