The 2023/2024 Winter Semester recorded a significant rise in the number of new students. The academic degree program, "Artificial Intelligence", the only one of its kind in Austria, is especially popular.

The numbers for the 2023 Winter Semester are now available and overall, there has been a significant rise in the number of students across all majors.

A Demand for Future-Oriented Degree Programs
The academic degree program in Artificial Intelligence, the first of its kind in Austria, experienced a substantial rise in enrollment. Since the start of the Bachelor’s degree program, there has been a high number of enrolled students, and this year, enrollment has increased to its highest level to date. Other computer science programs are also experiencing increased enrollment and - along with Artificial Intelligence - have seen an enrollment increase of over 30%.

Enrollment in the area of Law also rose approximately 6%, as did enrollment at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Economics & Business. Enrollment in the degree program Economics and Applied Statistics rose by 27%. Altogether, the three faculties (Engineering & Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Economic & Business, and Law) can celebrate increased enrollment of almost 10%.

The JKU Faculty of Medicine is an exception as the medical degree program has a limited number of spots and students must qualify to enroll. This year, 2,074 prospective applicants sign up to take the MedAT entrance examination to be eligible to study medicine at the JKU; 1,517 prospective applicants actually took the test to vie for one of the Faculty of Medicine’s 310 spots in the medical degree program.

There has also been a rise in the number of international students, which now accounts for over 18% of the student body.

JKU Rector Stefan Koch remarked: "In lieu of the current demographic trend, I am especially happy to be able to welcome a higher number of students to the JKU as compared to last year. Our younger generation’s interest and confidence in research and the importance of a university education is evident. This is encouraging and motivates us to continue improving our educational programs."

Andreas Janko, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, also believes the increasing enrollment confirms the JKU's strategic policies: "It is - and has always been - important that our university continue to always scrutinize our degree programs and adapt the curricula to meet to new demands. The rising enrollment figures confirm our approach."

The JKU's selection of over 75 academic degree programs is available at: https://www.jku.at/en/degree-programs/academic-degree-programs/all-degree-programs/