TURKU UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES HAS A STRONG FOOTHOLD IN TURKU AND NEARBY
A recent Osviitta report shows that as many as 60 per cent of applicants from Turku applying to study at a university of applied sciences apply primarily to the Turku University of Applied Sciences. This is a significant number compared to many other universities of applied sciences in their home municipality. In Tampere, for example, the corresponding figure is 52%.
Many applicants also come from the neighbouring municipalities. In Raisio, Kustavi, Sauvo, Kaarina and Nousiainen, the share of primary applicants of all applicants was 62-64 per cent, the highest in Finland. In other words, the attractiveness of the Turku region in neighbouring municipalities is quite good. For example, the corresponding share for the Tampere University of Applied Sciences is not more than 52% in any neighbouring municipality.
A large number of primary applicants also come from neighbouring cities, such as Salo (50%) and Rauma (20%). More than four per cent of the primary applicants from Tampere and nearly three per cent in Helsinki and Espoo apply to Turku, even though these cities also have universities of applied sciences.
Turku University of Applied Sciences is among the 12 most popular universities of applied sciences in almost all municipalities in the country, which shows that there are applicants from around the country.
Source: Osviitta quick report 2/2022: Anticipated impact of demographic trends on the number of applicants: Impact of smaller youth age groups by university of applied sciences
In the second joint application round of the spring, a total of 29,504 applicants applied to the University of Turku. This is more than for any other higher education institution in the country, which makes the University of Turku the most popular university in terms of the number of applicants. The number of primary applicants was 9,221.
In the joint application process last spring, the number of applicants was exceptionally high nationally, and this year the numbers decreased throughout the country. The number of applicants at the University of Turku also decreased by a couple of thousand but at the same time, its national ranking changed from third to first place.
‘Although the number of applicants and applications decreased nationally, the decrease at the University of Turku was lower than in other popular higher education institutions. We are very grateful for our placement’, says Vice President of the University of Turku Pia Björn in a press release from the University of Turku.
In the joint application process, the applicant can select several places of study to apply to. A total of 39,231 applications were received at the University of Turku. The most popular degree programmes for new applicants at the University of Turku were economics, medicine and law.
Turku University of Applied Sciences is the third most popular UAS
Turku University of Applied Sciences was the third most popular university of applied sciences in the country in terms of the number of applicants. More than 24,000 applications were received, of which nearly 6,300 were primary applicants.
The most attractive degree programmes at Turku University of Applied Sciences were again in the sectors of health and well-being.
‘The decrease in the number of applicants this year was a national trend after two very exceptional years. Despite this, our relative share of applicants remained high,’ says the Rector of Turku University of Applied Sciences Vesa Taatila on the website of the University of Applied Sciences.
Number of primary applicants to Åbo Akademi University increased
This spring, 3,538 people applied to Åbo Akademi University. Compared to last year, there were around twenty fewer applicants, but the number of primary applicants increased by more than 30 (1,746 primary applicants). The most popular programme was the Degree Programme in Economics and Business Administration.
‘Since 2018, the number of primary applicants has increased every year, and it is great to see that Åbo Akademi University is an attractive option also this year,’ says the Regional Manager for Education Services Gurli-Maria Gardberg.
Humak and Novia also popular for applicants
The same trend also showed at Humak University of Applied Sciences, although this spring it only offered one degree programme in Turku: the degree programme in Community Education. The national decrease in the number of applicants was also seen at Humak although the number of applicants per starting place and the number of primary applicants increased. The number of applicants for digital education also increased significantly.
In Novia, the number of applicants remained at around the same level as in the recent years. The most applications were targeted at the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Social Services, which is largely organised as digital teaching on the Turku campus. A total of eight degree programmes were offered in the application process on the Turku campus.
The Diaconia University of Applied Sciences also had only one programme offered in Turku, a degree programme in interpreting in sign language and alternative and augmentative communication. The Diaconia University of Applied Sciences experienced a drop in the number of applicants, probably due to the fact that the degree programme is moving to Helsinki as a result of the campus restructuring.