By Bo Jeppesen, Rector's Office and Jane Grønning Johansen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs. Photo: AAU

In a new health proposal, the government paves the way for 70 more study places to be created in the Bachelor's degree programme in medicine at Aalborg University. This means that the university will train almost 250 doctors a year. The 70 additional study places in the medical programme are part of ensuring better coverage with more doctors throughout the country.

Northern Jutland is in a situation where there is a shortage of both general practitioners and specialists, so this is very good news for the people of Northern Jutland, Per Michael Johansen, Rector of Aalborg University says.

"This is fantastic news for the people of Northern Jutland. Experience shows that most new graduates stay in the region, and this is good news in terms of the shortage of doctors especially in general practice in many places throughout the region. The proposal will thus help to reduce the inequality in healthcare that exists across Denmark," says Rector Per Michael Johansen.

Location of education is crucial 

The location of the educational institution is of crucial importance for where new doctors subsequently establish themselves as general practitioners and specialists. In 2024, 630 doctors will have graduated from AAU, and approximately 80 percent of the new doctors will begin their further training in the North Denmark Region.  

The rector is thus delighted with the government's recognition of the high quality of the graduates from Aalborg University.

"We are ready to receive the new students in a new, modern setting. The close collaboration with the North Denmark Region on the medical programme has been strengthened with the new health science building established in conjunction with the new university hospital (super hospital) in Aalborg East. This means that clinical training of the students will take place seamlessly from the classroom to the clinic in the future," says the rector.

There will not only be a close collaboration with the new university hospital in Aalborg on the new students, but also with the regional hospital in Hjørring (RHN) where AAU is investing in a new health campus. The aim is to use new digital and technological frameworks and facilities to make it attractive to study, teach and conduct research in connection with RHN.