The official numbers are in: The University of Bergen's (UiB) study programs are yet again proving to be very attractive among applicants.
Last week, UiB announced a record high number of first priority applicants to the Department of Information Science and Media Studies (InfoMedia), and the 6 study programs located in Media City Bergen are among the programs at UiB with the highest number of first choice applicants per available "slot". These numbers are based on applicants who've picked a study program at InfoMedia as their number one choice.
UiB has received over 500 first priority applicants to 79 openings for their bachelor studies at MCB. Ole J. Mjøs, Professor, and Academic Director for UiB's branch in Media City Bergen, believes that the increase in applicants for the studies in Media City Bergen is a result of especially three factors.
– I think long-term continuous work with developing high study quality and relevance is important. The 6 study programs at Media City Bergen are relatively new, and this is only the fourth admission since their launch. We also believe that there is a rising awareness amongst students about the studies at MCB, and as a result more people are applying to them as their first choice. The unique setting of the studies, as they are located in the heart of the Media Cluster, is also an important factor. The university and their students get to closely collaborate with the media companies in MCB, Mjøs says.
Ole J. Mjøs, Professor & Academic Director at UiB's branch in MCB, giving a presentation in MCB Media Lab in 2019
UiB's Master's studies in Media City Bergen are also seeing an increase in applications. The Master's programme in Media and Interaction Design has received 63 applicants, while the numbers of applications for Master in Scriptwriting for series and Master in Investigative Journalism have both doubled since 2019.
– Media City Bergen is a special location and a special environment. Students get to work closely together with relevant companies, which is important. The collaboration between the university and the companies in MCB and the Media Cluster works very well and we collaborate across multiple areas, says Mjøs.
Collaboration between academia and industry
The high and increasing interest for the study programs indicates that InfoMedia offers attractive and relevant study programs for future students, which in turn will prove beneficial for the companies in MCB and the Norwegian Media Cluster. TV 2 is one of the cluster companies that are working closely with UiB, on several levels.
– TV 2 has benefited greatly from its cooperation with the UiB, through access to talents for content production and media technology. The Centre for Investigative Journalism has been particularly important, says Sarah C.J. Willand, Director Organization, Communication and Government Relations, TV 2.
Sarah C.J. Willand, TV 2
– Furthermore, students from the master programs of Information Science and Media- and Interaction Design have contributed with new insight and expertise through their master thesises, which have been written in cooperation with TV 2 Sumo. This cooperation is also ensuring that the study program is relevant, that it reflects the needs of the industry, and gives us access to candidates that have already gained hands-on experience through the university program. The fact that the studies at UiB are hugely popular, is very important especially for TV 2, and also for the recruitment to the media sector in Western Norway, says Willand.
For more info about the record number of applicants, please see: https://www.uib.no/infomedia/135401/rekordhøye-søkertall-til-infomedia