By Nina Hermansen and Simon Svensmark Danneskiold-Samsøe
AAU Communication & Public Affairs

Sunday 15 March marked the application deadline for higher education programmes via quota 2, and preliminary figures from Aalborg University indicate that, more than in previous years, young people are turning their attention towards the production sector when choosing their education and career paths.

The bachelor’s programmes in Mekanik og Produktion (Mechanical Engineering and Production) and Globale Forretningssystemer (Global Business Systems), alongside the diploma engineering programme in Maskinteknik (Mechanical Engineering), are among the traditional production-oriented fields that - together with Biotechnology - have experienced an increase in first-priority applications through quota 2.

In fact, the number of first-priority applicants to a number of these traditional engineering programmes is collectively more than 60 per cent higher than last year. This is encouraging news, says Aalborg University’s Pro-Rector, Anne Marie Kanstrup.

“We know that young people are looking for quality alongside opportunities to apply their skills in meaningful ways. I am therefore proud to see that even more applicants have chosen AAU this year. Aalborg University is among the world’s leading engineering universities, but we remain entirely dependent on the energy and curiosity that each new generation of students brings.”

A safe choice in uncertain times

In a context of global disruption, economic uncertainty and new digital opportunities, particularly in the field of AI, part of the explanation for the rising number of applications to engineering programmes may lie in the broad career prospects they offer. These range from aerospace and sustainable technology to automation, IT and health technology.

At the same time, Denmark is expected to face a shortage of thousands of engineers in the coming years, needed to develop solutions and address challenges related to the green transition, digitalisation, and defence and security build-up.

“AAU plays an important role in development across the country, particularly in North Jutland, and I am fully aware that industry depends on access to skilled graduates. It is therefore beneficial both for society and for AAU that many young people choose degree programmes that are in high demand on the labour market. Close collaboration with industry has always been a priority for AAU,” says Anne Marie Kanstrup.

Overall increase in applications

In total, AAU has received 8,250 applications for the quota 2 deadline this year, compared with 7,964 in 2025 and 7,764 in 2024. These applications are distributed across AAU’s campuses in Aalborg, Esbjerg and Copenhagen.

Read more about AAU’s engineering programmes here.