Danish university rejects 24 researchers in 2025 after espionage checks

​​​​​​​By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) - Aarhus University in Denmark rejected 24 research applicants from China, Russia and Iran in 2025 following enhanced background checks to prevent foreign espionage, Danish public broadcaster DR reported Tuesday.

The rejections were not due to a lack of qualifications but stemmed from concerns that the candidates “could be pressured by their home countries to leak information,” Brian Vinter, pro-dean of the university’s technical faculty, told DR.

The school’s screening process, which is automatically triggered for applicants from those three countries, involves a detailed review of research collaborators, institutional ties, funding sources and fields of study, particularly those considered high-risk, such as electrical engineering, computer science and energy technologies.

Aarhus University initially piloted the security screening in two faculties, and it has since been expanded across Danish universities in line with national guidelines.

The initiative follows recommendations from the Higher Education and Science Ministry, as well as threat assessments by the Danish Agency for Cyber and Infrastructure Security, which identified a high espionage risk facing academic institutions.

Other universities, including the University of Copenhagen, Roskilde University and Aalborg University, have adopted similar measures.

While some declined to share specific rejection figures, Aalborg University said it has conducted hundreds of risk assessments in recent years, focusing on applicants from high-risk countries.

Aarhus University has hired five full-time staff fluent in Russian, Chinese and Persian to carry out the checks.

The school also plans to expand its security framework with stronger physical protection, new travel protocols and secure devices for staff visiting high-risk regions.

“We must accept that the university is an attractive target for unwanted activity,” said Vinter, emphasizing the need to protect national interests and university staff from potential foreign coercion.