Gender points
NTNU learns that the proportion of women drops as soon as these points are removed. Now they are asking that several study programs get the gender points back.
Facts
NTNU is applying for gender points for these ten
Did not have gender points in 2023/2024
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Electronic systems engineer, Trondheim (3 years)
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Electrification and digitalisation, Trondheim (3-year)
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Automation and intelligent systems, Trondheim (3-year)
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Mechatronics and product design, Ålesund (3-year)
Had gender points in 2023/2024
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Electronic system design and innovation, Trondheim (5-year)
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Mechanical and energy technology, Trondheim (5 years)
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Machine, full-time Gjøvik (3 years)
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Geomatics, Gjøvik (3-year)
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Ship design, Ålesund (3 years)
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Bygg, Ålesund (3-year-old)
Each academic year, the Ministry of Education decides which study programs will have gender points on admission.
In February, it became known that NTNU will lose gender points on several of its technology and engineering courses in the coming academic year (autumn 2024/spring 2025). In total, the university lost gender points on 20 study programmes.
– We are disappointed, said vice-chancellor for education Marit Reitan at the time.
The deadline for applying for gender credits for the academic year 2025/2026 expired on 1 March. In addition to the study programs that receive gender credits in 2024/2025, NTNU is applying here for gender credits for women on ten programmes, and for men on one.
It was made clear in the university’s application letter for gender credits.
Want to reinstate points
Many of the study programs at NTNU that lost their points in 2024/2025 had crossed the magic limit of 20 per cent. The Ministry of Education only grants gender points if there is a percentage bias of 80 versus 20 per cent between the sexes.
Despite the 20 per cent limit, NTNU applies for gender credits for women on several programs where the proportion of women is between 20 and 30 per cent. This is because the figures are from study programs where there are already gender credits. The university therefore believes that the figures are artificially “high”.
When the gender points are removed, they have experienced that the proportion of women decreases. This is what the university writes in the application letter to the Ministry of Education.
Six of the study programs NTNU is applying for gender points for have until recently had points, but were removed for the academic year 23/24.
Will increase the number of points
Starting with admission to the academic year 20/21, male applicants to the professional study program in psychology have received one gender point. Now NTNU is applying for men on the professional studies in psychology to get one more gender point.
This is because the one gender score did not significantly increase the proportion of men. In autumn 2023, the study program had a proportion of 22.3 per cent men. Before gender points were introduced, the proportion of men in the period 2011-2019 was 19-26 per cent.
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