According to major media reports, the number of applicants to the police academy increased by 21 percent compared to last year. The application deadline was March 1, and 3650 people applied for the 549 places. The police academy in Bodø had the largest increase in applicants, with a 79 percent increase compared to the previous year.
Police sources say they have tried new channels for recruitment this year, including a digital recruitment campaign aimed at young people aged 16–25. The high number of applicants shows that police education is still an attractive and safe educational choice for many, according to Nina Skarpenes, rector at the police academy. She stated, "It's great that the applicants seem to have opened their eyes to our study location in Bodø.
It's great that the applicants seem to have opened their eyes to our study location in Bodø. It's a nice study location that is located on the campus of Nord University. This year, staff and students have contributed to the recruitment campaign by actively sharing from student life at the Police Academy in Bodø.
It's a nice study location that is located on the campus of Nord University. " Although the number has increased from last year when there were 3020 applicants, major media reports indicate that the number of applicants has dropped considerably over the last ten years. In 2016, there were 5663 applicants for 720 places in comparison.
The reasons for the long-term decline remain unclear, and it is not known how many applicants were accepted or what the acceptance rate is for the 549 places. The specific factors behind the sharp increase in Bodø have also not been detailed.