By Lea Laursen Pasgaard, AAU Communication and Public Affairs. Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication and Public Affairs. Photo: AAU.

On Friday, the government, the Socialist People's Party, the Denmark Democrats, the Liberal Alliance and the Conservative People’s Party finalized a new political agreement on right-sizing student intake at the country's universities in 2025-2029. The agreement is part of the university reform that was adopted in the summer of 2023. The agreement stipulates that the universities must reduce admission to bachelor’s programmes by 10 percent overall, but for Aalborg University (AAU), admission must be reduced by 12.1 percent. This corresponds to 443 fewer student places.

"We are annoyed that AAU is cutting so much. We help ensure growth and jobs in Northern Jutland and the rest of Denmark, and our research contributes to solving major challenges all over the world," Pro-rector Anne Mette Kanstrup says.

AAU has already reduced its student intake significantly

AAU has already significantly reduced its student intake, including in connection with the relocation agreement. This meant that AAU close 18 degree programmes by 2030, and the university is also reducing student places at a number of other programmes.

"We are implementing the relocation plan, and this contributes to achieving the recently announced reduction. In other words, the 12.1 percent is not in addition to the reductions we have already planned," states the pro-rector.

The pro-rector cannot yet say how many new student places the university will actually have to eliminate. The figures in the new political agreement cannot be compared with figures from other agreements because the starting point for the calculations is different.

Implementation requires thorough discussion

It is still too early to say anything about the specific consequences at AAU.

"The agreement has just been finalized, and internally we now need to start looking at how we will approach the right-sizing across the faculties. This is not an easy process, and it is important that we think carefully to ensure a balanced university and maintain strong learning environments in Aalborg, Copenhagen and Esbjerg," says Anne Marie Kanstrup.

Sector right-sizing will take effect as early as next year. The agreement also stipulates that the right-sizing will be adjusted every five years in light of demographic developments.