This represents an increase of around 15% compared to applications for the autumn semester 2024. In second place is Uppsala University (26,684 applications), followed by Stockholm University (21,153 applications) and KTH (19,747 applications).
International programmes refer to programmes aimed at international applicants. The increased interest is believed to be due to several factors, such as an increased focus on internationalisation and a growing demand for international skills in the labour market.
Particularly positive for Lund University is the large proportion of first-choice applications, where LU tops the league among the broad universities. A full 59% have chosen LU as their first choice for a master's programme. The corresponding figure for Uppsala University is 38 per cent, at Stockholm University 46 per cent and at Gothenburg University 37 per cent.
Another good news is that the number of applicants who have paid the application fee has increased by around 20 per cent at LU.
Most popular programmes
The most popular programme at Lund University is the Bachelor of International Business, which is also the most popular programme in Sweden across all categories. It is closely followed by a similar programme in International Business at Stockholm University.
Of the ten most popular Master's programmes in Sweden, five are at Lund University, and all belong to the School of Economics (EHL):
- Master's Programme in Finance, 1 254 applicants
- Master's Programme in International Marketing and Brand Management, 1,159 applicants
- Master's Programme in Management, 1,115 applicants
- Master's Programme in International Strategic Management, 1 099 applicants
- Master's Programme in Data Analytics and Business Economics, 1 066 applicants
Interest in international bachelor programmes is generally increasing in Sweden. Of the fifteen most popular programmes in Sweden, half (seven) are Bachelor programmes. However, applicants can choose up to eight Bachelor's programmes in their application, but only four Master's programmes, which means that the figures are not fully comparable. There are also only a few Bachelor's programmes in Sweden compared to the number of Master's programmes.
We have ten Bachelor's programmes in English at LU, but three are in music/arts and have special application processes. The other seven have the following numbers:
- Bachelor's programme in International Business, 1 675 applicants
- Bachelor's Programme in Economy and Society, 782 applicants
- Master's Programme in Development Studies, 741 applicants
- Master's Programme in Biomedicine, 769 applicants
- Master's Programme in Mathematics, 369 applicants
- Master's Programme in Physics, 379 applicants
- Master's Programme in Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, 274 applicants
Countries with most applicants
There continues to be a good spread among the countries from which applicants come. Applications to the Master's programmes come from 170 countries. Most applications come from Nigeria, China, Bangladesh, Sweden, Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Germany. The number of applications is increasing from most countries, but we see the strongest increases from Nigeria, Bangladesh and Indonesia, while applications from China are decreasing compared to the autumn semester 2024.
Read the full UHR report: Interest in international programmes has increased significantly (in Swedish)