Student recruitment

What is student recruitment? 

At KI, student recruitment encompasses all strategic and operational efforts aimed at attracting, informing, and supporting prospective students throughout their decision-making process, from initial interest to the start of their studies at KI. Everyone at KI has an important role to play in this work. Student recruitment includes, among other things:

• Needs analysis and planning
• Information and marketing of educational programs
• Collaboration with schools and organizations
• Contact with prospective students
• Widening recruitment
• Study guidance and admission support
• Information prior to the start of studies
• Follow-up and development of recruitment efforts

Strategy

In 2025, the president established a strategy for student recruitment. The strategy clarifies what KI wants to achieve, what conditions are required, and which areas should be prioritized going forward.

The student recruitment strategy will be implemented in two-year action plans that clarify priorities and guide the efforts that are made. In this way, the work will be long-term, coordinated, and linked to KI's overall goals.

Strategy for recruiting students to undergraduate and advanced level education (Swedish)

The student journey

KI plans recruitment activities to meet students' needs at every stage of their decision-making journey. By understanding students' needs at each stage, KI can plan initiatives that facilitate well-informed educational choices and a secure start to their studies.

Since KI offers educational programs in several different admission rounds, communication and activities are adapted to the specific times in each round.

Discover

Students become aware that KI offers educational programs and are inspired to learn more. Curiosity and questions about the future drive students to explore opportunities. KI is present where the target groups are and uses students and alumni as role models to spark interest and show possible paths forward.

Explore

Students actively seek information about education, eligibility requirements, and future opportunities. In this phase, students compare different options and reflect on what suits them best. KI provides clear, accurate, and accessible information so that students can compare programs and make an informed decision. 

Apply

The student completes their application. For international students, the process can be more complex, involving several documents and administrative steps. KI provides support and guidance throughout the application process and reminds students of deadlines.

Prepare

The student has been admitted and is preparing to start their studies. KI supports practical and social preparations by providing information and organizing welcome activities that create a sense of security and prepare the student for the start of their studies. 

Widening recruitment

One of the strategy's priority development areas is to widening recruitment. This is a statutory task under the Higher Education Act (1992:1434) and a strategically important part of KI's quality work. This is a long-term endeavour, as norms, individual upbringing and labour market conditions influence educational choices at an early stage.

Recruitment bias varies between different programmes, and efforts are therefore tailored to meet the specific challenges of each programme. The focus of the work is to:

• Challenge stereotypes that limit who sees themselves studying at KI or working in a particular profession.
• Identify measures to attract students from underrepresented groups, for example through targeted marketing and collaborations.
• Highlight KI's work to create an inclusive study environment on equal terms in areas such as teaching, examination, and student support.