Decision on reduced range of programmes and courses in 2026
Next autumn, no new students will be admitted to three of the University’s programmes, and in the spring semester of 2027 one more programme will also have no admissions. There will also be fewer freestanding courses. This is the consequence of the Vice-Chancellor’s decision on the range of programmes and courses offered for the academic year 26/27. The reason for the decision is the requirement to achieve a balanced budget by 2026 and the fact that the government now reduces the funding cap in the coming year, i.e. the maximum funding that the University can receive for its educational provision each year. In order to maintain the quality of education, the University therefore needs to admit fewer students in the coming years.
“The government reduces the funding cap. Therefore, we need to reduce areas of education that are not as prioritised by the government”.
Susanna Öhman, Vice-Chancellor
Halmstad University, like other higher education institutions, has seen a sharp increase in costs in recent years, which has not been compensated by corresponding increases in funding. Instead, the funding cap will be reduced, while the compensation for certain areas of education will be increased. With the increased compensation amounts, a lower volume of education is required to reach the funding cap of the education funding, and therefore the total education provision needs to be reduced by the equivalent of approximately SEK 26 million by 2027.
“It is clear that the government wants to invest in improved quality, especially in technology and science, while at the same time reducing the total funding cap. Therefore, we need to reduce areas of education that are not as prioritised by the government”, says Vice-Chancellor Susanna Öhman.
No admission to four programmes
The programmes that will not have any admission in autumn 2026 are the Construction and Real Estate Business Programme ,180 credits, Sociology for Social Sustainability, 180 credits, and the Master’s Programme in Digital Service Innovation, 120 credits. The Pre-School Teacher Education, 210 credits, will not admit any new students in the spring semester of 2027, as is also the case for the spring semester of 2026. In addition, the total number of freestanding courses will be reduced. The decision currently only applies to the academic year 26/27, but the long-term planning does not seem to allow for reopening admissions.
Already admitted students are not affected
Students who have already been admitted and are attending one of the four programmes are not affected by the decision and will continue to follow their programme syllabus with the courses included.
In addition to the Government’s signals, the drafting group that has worked on the range of programmes and courses has based its analysis on both financial and quality perspectives, using key figures such as number of applications, retention and graduation rate, as well as demand in the labour market, research links and competence in the collegium at each School. Documentation from the quality system, such as programme reports, course evaluations and final-year surveys, has also been included in the analysis, which has been carried out together with the Schools’ managements.
“We are a university with many good and popular programmes, and it is of course sad not to be able to continue to offer some of the programmes – both for future students who will no longer be able to apply to them, and for the teachers who are passionate about their programmes. Teachers will be able to continue teaching in other programmes or courses, and the students will hopefully find other programmes that can provide similar competence, with us or at other universities”, says Vice-Chancellor Susanna Öhman.
Text: Selma Sedelius
Photo: Joachim Brink
