Fewer students admitted to autumn university programmes in 2026

Fewer students have been admitted to Swedish higher education programmes for the autumn 2026 term, despite record interest, according to figures from the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) reported by SVT.

The number of admitted students has fallen by 3.1% compared to last year, while the number of eligible applicants rose by 1.3% and reserves increased by over 8%. Robin Johansson, head of unit at UHR, attributes the trend to economic uncertainty and rising unemployment driving more people toward higher education, even as available places shrink.

Over 450,000 Swedes applied for university programmes this year, an increase of about 6,000 from 2025. Most applicants are aged 20–24, and women account for nearly two-thirds of the total.

Law, economics, and medicine remain the most sought-after programmes, but social work and nursing have also climbed in popularity. Vocational degrees, such as pharmacy and occupational therapy, are seeing growing demand due to their clear career paths, Johansson said.

Stockholm, Uppsala, Lund, and Gothenburg universities dominate the list of most popular institutions, with Umeå University receiving the highest number of applications overall.