Ann Lantz’s comments on applications for autumn semester 2020

The number of accepted master's students has increased by 26% compared to autumn semester 2019

It is positive but we do not know whether and to what extent international students will come to the roll-call. For paying students, we have chosen to be courteous and pay back the fee if they are unable to start their studies, especially if it is due to covid-19.

In purely economic terms, this may pose a problem for the master's programmes within the school that have invested in large numbers of paying students.

KTH has had its ”Call up weekend” event almost two weeks ago, when we contact the admitted students and answer their questions. We had expected many questions related to the covid-19 but the questions were of the same nature as before. Questions such as: what does it mean to study at KTH, how is the housing situation and how is it to live in Stockholm.

Number of first choice applicants for our other programmes

For the Master of Science programmes, the application rate is high and we can continue to admit students with high grades.

Technical mathematics is a new Master of Science programme in which we and the SCI School share the program responsibilities with 309 first choice applicants to 30 places.

Our English Bachelor´s programme has increased application rate and the programme is gaining popularity every year.

In addition to these applicants, we can expect more ”old” students to return to complete their studies now that the labour market is problematic. We can also expect to receive more requests for validation of prior learning. In addition, in the spring budget we have been told that universities and colleges in Sweden receive increased funding to educate more students. Right now we are discussing how an extended base year will affect us and the number of students we will admit.