Significant increase in college applicants

Interest in studying at the University of Gävle is rising sharply. Ahead of the fall semester of 2026, the number of applicants has increased by 16 percent compared to the previous year, placing the university among those with the highest growth rates.

A total of 37,645 people applied for programs at the University of Gävle, compared to 32,392 the previous year, representing an increase of 16.2 percent (source: Swedish Council for Higher Education External link.).

“It is very gratifying that so many are applying to us and that we are growing so significantly despite a slight reduction in the number of available spots. This shows that our programs are attractive and relevant, especially at a time when many want to strengthen their position in the job market,” says Maria Strand, head of the Department of Educational Support at the University of Gävle.

Nursing program popular

The increase reflects a national trend where interest in higher education is reaching record levels. Nationally, over 424,000 people have applied for studies for the fall semester, which is the highest number ever recorded, and a three percent increase compared to a year ago. The increase is evident across all age groups, but is particularly clear among young adults.

While demand is rising, the total number of courses offered nationwide is decreasing slightly, making competition for spots in higher education programs fiercer.

Preliminary figures show that the University of Gävle is seeing growth primarily in already popular programs such as social work, criminology, and nursing. The nursing program has seen a 35 percent increase in applications and has more applicants than it has had in ten years.

Teacher education and engineering programs are largely at the same level as before.

Regarding advanced-level programs, it is worth noting that the new distance learning version of the Master’s in Economics with a focus on Accounting has many applicants, as does the new Master’s program in Psychology.

Admission decisions will be published on July 10

The University of Gävle is one of the most popular universities when looking at application numbers among the large, comprehensive universities. Gävle has the second-highest total number of applicants and also the second-highest number of applicants for both degree programs and standalone courses.

“We are constantly working to develop our educational offerings to meet both student demand and societal needs,” says Maria Strand.

Admission decisions for the fall semester of 2026 will be sent out on July 10. By visiting the Antagning.se External link. website, you can see which programs and courses are still open for application.