18,800 of UiO’s 44,550 applicants at this year’s Samordna admissions want to join the Faculty of Social Sciences: – It is gratifying that so many see the importance of our subjects, says Dean of Studies Tora Skodvin in a press release from the Faculty of Social Sciences.
She does not hide her excitement. This year’s applicant figures from Samordna admissions show that the Faculty of Social Sciences (SV) has wind in its sails. With an increase in the number of applicants of as much as 18 per cent over the past two years, the faculty is consolidating its position as an attractive place to study.
– It is gratifying that so many people understand the importance of our subjects. With a social science education, our students are qualified for many important and interesting jobs in the future, says Skodvin.
– All the major societal challenges we face today – such as war, climate change and environmental degradation, challenges to democracy, economic and social inequality in Norway and the world, inclusion of children and young people, mental illness – require social science expertise.
Great rise for political science
The study programs at the Department of Psychology are stable at a high number of applicants, and have the most applicants per study place in the SV faculty, while the Department of Political Science (ISV) increases the most in this application round. All bachelor’s programs at ISV – including political science, international studies, and public administration and management – are experiencing a significant increase in the number of applicants.
– For several of the programmes, the growth in the number of applicants comes on top of an already high level, Skodvin points out.
The study program Socio-economic analysis takes place in this year’s Samordna admission. And although the number of applicants to the sought-after bachelor’s program Economics and Computer Science has halved from last year, the study offer is still on the top list for the most popular study programs at UiO.
– Economics and computer science still have very good numbers of applicants. The study program was completely new last year, so the number of applicants was probably at an artificially high level, says the dean of studies.
The bachelor’s program in sociology is also experiencing a slight decrease, after a significant increase last year.
– Nevertheless, the applicant numbers for sociology this year are well above the applicant numbers from 2022.
Revival for social anthropology
The recent results from Samordna admissions indicate a growing interest in more offers in the SV faculty’s study portfolio. Tora Skodvin is particularly happy about the upswing for the bachelor’s program in social anthropology, which had a decline last year.
– The entire faculty has worked systematically with recruitment over several years, and we believe both this year’s and last year’s good numbers of applicants are a result of this work, says Skodvin.
The third most popular study program in Norway is located in Oslo and in Southern Norway
This year’s applicant figures from Samordna admissions 2024 show that UiO Campus south is the third most popular study program of all in Norway, says a press release from the Faculty of Medicine.
UiO Campus south
The application option UiO Campus south autumn is set as first choice by 19.1 students per study place. Campus south autumn is then the third most requested study program per study place. At UiO Campus Sør, you take the first three years of your medical studies in Oslo and then switch to Kristiansand as your place of study and continue your studies there. There are 15 study places at UiO Campus south compared to 115 study places in Oslo.
The University of Oslo launched decentralized medical studies at UiO Campus south as a new search option for coordinated admissions this year. New applicants to the medical studies can choose between completing the entire study in Oslo or the first half in Oslo and the second half in Kristiansand and Sørlandet. The medical education in Oslo and Agder is now one of the country’s most popular courses.
Decentralized medical education is important for training more doctors in Norway
UiO Campus Sør is important for us to succeed in training more doctors in Norway. The Grimstad Committee recommended in 2019 that Norway should train significantly more doctors at its own universities. Both Sørlandet Hospital and the municipalities in Agder have contributed a lot to make this happen. In Southern Norway, there is close cooperation between the hospitals and the municipalities in the region. This makes it possible for the students to gain varied experiences from both the specialist healthcare service and the primary healthcare service as part of their studies.
– We are very happy that many people want to study medicine at the University of Oslo. It is particularly pleasing that so many will complete the last half of their studies at our decentralized campus in Southern Norway, which was established last year, says Magnus Løberg, dean of studies at the Faculty of Medicine, UiO.
– From the students who are now at Sørlandet, we hear that they are very satisfied with the study offer and the close follow-up they receive from the lecturers and the entire hospital, so we have great faith in this model.
It is good that the government has granted 20 more study places for medicine to UiO from this admission, so that we can now take in 260 students each year. But we know that the need is much greater, and therefore have great faith in further increases in the coming years as well, says Magnus Løberg.
Medical education is important for the entire region
– This is very good news for Sørlandet, says Nina Mevold, managing director at Sørlandet hospital HF.
– This is a very important investment for Sørlandet Hospital and for the entire region. We are incredibly proud that in a short time we have managed to establish a decentralized medical course that is perceived as so attractive to future students. Here, I think the students themselves have been good ambassadors. And that is again due to the good professionals we have recruited from hospitals and municipalities.
Satisfied medical students at UiO Campus south
– Our lecturers are both skilled and committed, and there is a short distance from theory to practice. I am very satisfied with my stay here, and it is very cool that so many people want to take part of the medical education here in Southern Norway, says Iselin Hedvig Sørensen Graarud, medical student at UiO Campus south.
