9001 applicants to CBS: Interest in business and society continues
Applications 2025: 6,472 young people have listed a CBS bachelor programme as their first priority. This continues the historically high interest in business and the social sciences seen in the record year 2024.
The application deadline for quota 1 bachelor admissions was 12:00 noon on 5 July. In 2025, CBS has received a total of 9,001 applications, which is close to the record 9,176 applicants in 2024.
6,472 applicants have chosen a CBS bachelor programme as their first priority. This is a 1 percent drop compared to 2024.
“The Danish business community needs more graduates with backgrounds in business and the social sciences, so we are both proud and pleased that so many young people want to follow that path through CBS,” says Anna Thomasson, Dean of Education.
Anna Thomasson stresses that this level of interest also comes with great responsibility:
“The world is changing rapidly, and our programmes must continue to be attractive and forward-looking. That requires study environments with strong academic foundations, interdisciplinarity and a sense of security. In short, the best possible platform for our students to shape and challenge the businesses of tomorrow – from new technologies and green transition to an unstable world order.”
Sectoral dimensioning will reduce student enrolment by 11 percent
Due to the national sectoral dimensioning for Danish universities, CBS will be allowed to enrol a maximum of 2,556 bachelor students in 2025. This is 315 fewer than in 2024 – a reduction of nearly 11 percent.
We are subject to this dimensioning despite having the highest graduate employment rate, lowest dropout rate and fastest completion time in Denmark.
“I am proud that CBS continues to attract and educate so many talented and highly motivated young people. And I am frustrated that we have to cut enrolment at a time when young people want to study at CBS – and companies want to hire our graduates,” says CBS President Peter Møllgaard.
He believes that the sectoral dimensioning harms the Danish business community:
“There is a huge demand for CBS’ graduates and their ability to drive green transition and help Danish companies compete globally. The only thing standing in the way is the dimensioning. We are ready to deliver – but in 2025, this enrolment cap forces us to disappoint more students and more companies than ever before.”