Despite rising applications and continued popularity, Copenhagen Business School (CBS) will admit fewer undergraduate Danish students in 2025. The reduction follows a national political agreement designed to limit university admissions in Denmark.
Fewer Danish Students Admitted at CBS for 2025
Copenhagen Business School (CBS), one of Denmark’s leading universities, has announced a reduction in its undergraduate admissions for 2025, despite experiencing a high volume of interest. A total of 9,001 students submitted applications to CBS this year, nearly matching the school’s record of 9,176 in 2024. However, due to a mandatory political agreement on admissions caps, only 2,915 applicants have been offered a spot for the upcoming academic year — down from 3,265 in 2024. CBS is still very popular, but there just aren’t enough spots for all Danish students.
The directive comes from a national policy known as “sektordimensionering,” which obliges Danish universities to reduce the number of bachelor’s program slots. For CBS, this means a limit of 2,556 bachelor’s students measured as of October 1, 2025 — amounting to an 11% reduction from the previous year. This limitation has led CBS to turn away hundreds of qualified applicants, significantly impacting both the student body and the broader business community in Denmark, which relies heavily on CBS graduates. The rule means that many good students won’t ger in, and people are worried about what that means for jobs in Denmark.
High Demand, Limited Space
CBS remains a top destination for young people interested in business and social sciences. Of the 9,001 applicants this year, 6,472 students listed CBS as their first choice — only a 1% dip from last year’s number. These figures demonstrate a consistent and strong interest in CBS programs, even as fewer spaces are made available.
To accommodate the government-mandated reduction, CBS has shut down three of its bachelor programs, which together enrolled 372 students in 2024. The university has slightly increased capacity within other programs to partially offset these cuts, but the overall intake remains significantly smaller.
Wider Impact on Education and Business
This strategic downsizing has raised concerns about potential long-term effects on both the Danish labor market and social equity in education. As admissions become more competitive due to fewer spaces, the minimum entry qualifications — known as “adgangskvotienter” — are expected to rise. This could decrease access for students from underrepresented geographic or social backgrounds.
Further implications also reach Denmark’s business sector, where CBS graduates are in high demand. By limiting the number of new students, the talent pipeline to many industries could shrink, potentially affecting innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness in the country.
Preparing Students for More than Academics
CBS says it prioritizes not only delivering strong academic programs but also nurturing creative and responsible leadership. The school emphasizes that new students will be introduced to an educational experience designed to tackle complex societal challenges. Alongside technical knowledge, emphasis is placed on critical thinking, social responsibility, and international outlook — values that align with CBS’s role as a globally recognized business school grounded in the Nordic socioeconomic model.
The fall semester is scheduled to begin on September 1, when new undergraduate students will be welcomed to the Frederiksberg-based campus. CBS staff have committed to providing a supportive and inspiring learning environment to ensure Danish students transition smoothly into University life.
About CBS
Copenhagen Business School is one of Europe’s leading business universities, hosting approximately 20,000 full-time and part-time students. The institution employs around 800 full-time faculty members, 200 doctoral candidates, and 700 administrative staff. CBS offers a wide array of programs at the undergraduate, master’s, MBA/EMBA, and PhD levels, and courses are available in both Danish and English.
Operating with a strong focus on interdisciplinary research and education, CBS aims to address the complex needs of modern societies and businesses. Its global reach is underpinned by partnerships with industries, government agencies, and civil society, ensuring that its research and graduates contribute meaningfully to both the Danish economy and wider global challenges.
