The total number of eligible applicants this year was just over 414,000 - an increase of 1.3 percent compared with last year, according to a compilation by the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR).
But there are not as many places on courses this year. This means that around 10,000 fewer were admitted in the first selection compared with 2025 - a decrease of 3 percent.
The result is that approximately one in four eligible applicants is still without a place on a programme, and competition has intensified across a wide range of programmes. The number of reserve places has increased by just over 8 percent compared with 2025.
Overall, more people have applied and more are on reserve. Therefore, you can really say that the competition is higher, especially for the attractive programmes, says Robin Johansson, head of unit at UHR.
Increase in reserves
As every year, a number of prestigious programmes are heavily oversubscribed. This mainly applies to several law and economics programmes, where although quite a few are admitted, there are still dozens of qualified applicants for each place. Other programmes have fewer places, with the result that competition for places is fierce. This applies, for example, to certain engineering programmes and medical and psychology programmes.
The fact that so many people have applied for this autumn's courses can be explained by large youth cohorts and a tough labour market. When it is difficult to get a job, more people apply to university. The fact that some - but not all - universities have simultaneously cut their admissions can have several reasons.
Economy is a factor - universities have savings requirements, says Robin Johansson.
Secure a place
Everyone who receives a decision today - positive or negative - and still wants to study in the autumn must secure their place or reserve place.
Everyone must remember to say yes by July 20. No place is final in the first selection. This applies regardless of whether you are on reserve or accepted, says Robin Johansson.
On July 23, applicants with a reserve place will be notified if they have been accepted in the second selection, that is, after a number of applicants have declined their place.
If you are on reserve and don't think it will come through, there are a number of courses that are open for late registration. Today, there are over 4,000 registration options for courses and programmes with late registration, says Robin Johansson.
Facts: This is where most people applied
Of the higher education institutions, Uppsala University had the most eligible applicants overall (84,600), followed by Stockholm University (75,600) and Umeå University (74,000).
The five most sought-after programmes, counted in eligible applicants. Number of admitted students and minimum merit score (BI) in brackets.
Law Programme, Stockholm University: 6,224 (207 admitted, 21.04)
Law Programme, Uppsala University: 6,219 (103, 21.77)
Law Programme, Lund University: 5,775 (102, 21.93)
Law Programme, University of Gothenburg: 5,595 (189, 21.15)
Bachelor of Science in Economics, Lund University: 4,617 (184, 21.44)
The five most popular courses, calculated in terms of eligible applicants. Number of admissions and minimum merit score (BI) in brackets.
Criminology A, Södertörn University: 2,519 (23 admitted, 20.8)
Project Management I, Linnaeus University: 2,138 (72, 20.99)
Leadership for business development, Linköping University: 2,116 (144, 20.5)
Leading and running projects, Umeå University: 2,107 (205, 19.75)
Leadership and organization, basic course, Malmö University: 2,052 (81, 20.3)
Source: UHR
The 20 programmes that required the highest merit score (best high school grade, selection group BI). The numbers indicate the merit score of the last person admitted in the first selection. A maximum of 22.5 points can be obtained.
KTH, Master of Science in Engineering Physics: 22.4
KTH, Master of Science in Technical Mathematics: 22.4
Lund University, medical programme: 22.29
Karolinska Institutet, medical programme: 22.29
Stockholm School of Economics, Bachelor of Science programme in business and economics: 22,29
Lund University, Bachelor of Science programme, Physics: 22.29
Karolinska Institutet, Bachelor's Programme in Biomedicine: 22.2
Uppsala University, medical programme: 22.19
Lund University, Master of Science in Engineering Physics: 22.19
Stockholm School of Economics, Bachelor of Science programme in retail management: 22.19
Lund University, Bachelor of Science programme, mathematics: 22.12
Lund University, Psychology Programme: 22.1
Lund University, Master of Science in Industrial Engineering: 22.08
Lund University, Bachelor's Programme International Business: 22.08
Lund University, Biomedicine Programme: 22.06
KTH, Bachelor's Programme, Information and Communication Technology: 22.04
University of Gothenburg, medical programme: 21.98
Uppsala University, Psychology Programme: 21.98
KTH, Master of Science in Industrial Economics: 21.98
Uppsala University, Master of Science in Industrial Engineering: 21.98
(KTH stands for Royal Institute of Technology)
Source: UHR
