Sweden is a Scandinavian country renowned for its stunning scenery, history and culture. Its landscape is filled with lakes, mountains and forests and, in urban areas, magnificent architecture mixes with striking coastal views. Along with fascinating galleries, museums and the Liseberg amusement park, you will have plenty to explore.
The population of about 10 million is spread across Sweden’s regions: Norrland in the north, Svealand in the centre, and Götaland in the south. Hundreds of islands are easily accessible by boat and the archipelago of Gothenburg is a favourite tourist attraction.
An ideal base for travelling around Europe, Sweden borders Norway and Finland, and is close to Denmark. Locals primarily speak Swedish and Finnish, but English is widely spoken too, and the currency is the Swedish krona.
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To study in Sweden as an international student, you will have to apply through the Swedish admissions website with an application form, evidence of your eligibility and proficiency in English, and be able to meet the entry requirements of the relevant course. You can apply to a maximum of four bachelor’s programmes. Ensure you consult the individual universities for application procedures and deadlines.
The deadline to apply for autumn places on Swedish undergraduate programmes is January of that year, and selection happens in March. So for those finishing their secondary school studies, many places will be taken by the time you get your results – although you may be offered a place if there is still availability.
These are the best universities in Sweden based on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021.
Top 5 universities in Sweden
1. Karolinska Institute
Karolinska Institute prides itself on its world-class medical research. It frequently ranks as one of the best and most prestigious universities in the world to study medicine.
Based in Solna, greater Stockholm, the university was founded in 1810 to train army surgeons. It has since expanded to include two campuses – the second is in Flemingsberg, just south of Stockholm.
The university offers a range of health and life sciences degrees and postgraduate qualifications. For undergraduates these include medicine, psychology, psychotherapy, dentistry, midwifery, nursing, audiology, optometry, physiotherapy, radiography, occupational therapy, and speech and language pathology.
The Karolinska University Hospital, where students undertake training and research, is nearby. International exchange programmes are also in place with other universities, including in Australia, China, Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands.
The Nobel Assembly at the university is among those entitled to submit nominations for the Nobel laureate for physiology/medicine. Of the eight Swedes who have received the award, five studied at Karolinska.
These include Nobel prizewinner and neurophysiologist Torsten Nils Wiesel, Nobel prizewinner and physiologist Ulf von Euler, and Nobel laureate in medicine and scientist Hugo Theorell. Other famous alumni include physician Lars Leksell, the inventor of radiosurgery, and Swedish politicians Ewa Björling and Bengt Westerberg.
2. Lund University
Lund University is a public university in the Swedish city of Lund. It also has campuses in Malmö and Helsingborg.
The university has more than 27,000 students and is organised into more than 20 research centres and institutes.
Lund University library was established in 1668 – the same year as the university – and is one of Sweden’s oldest and largest libraries.
The city of Lund itself dates back to 990, meaning that there is more than 1,000 years of history among the cobbled streets, alongside modern restaurants, shops and venues.
The university colours are dark blue and bronze and the motto is Ad utrumque, which translates to “Prepared for both the book and the sword”.
3. Uppsala University
Founded in 1477, Uppsala University is the oldest university in Sweden and began with a strong emphasis on theology and just 50 students. Its historical background is juxtaposed with its now very modern campuses in the city of Uppsala.
There are three disciplinary fields at the university: arts and social sciences, medicine and pharmacy, and science and technology, with about 70 undergraduate courses. Law, medicine and psychology are among the most popular choices for new students.
With increasing application numbers at Uppsala, the university is becoming more selective in its admissions process. It has also established exchange agreements with more than 400 universities across the world.
Reflecting the university’s religious beginnings, the cathedral bell is rung at key academic ceremonies. Another of the university’s traditions is its white student cap, which was first worn in the 1840s by Uppsala students to identify themselves, and is donned on 30 April, “Walpurgis Eve”, to celebrate the arrival of spring.
The university is also home to the country’s oldest botanical garden, which has more than 9,000 species of plants. The garden was part of the royal castle and was donated by King Gustav III.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden graduated from the university with a bachelor of arts in 2009, while Alfred Nobel was given an honorary doctorate from there in 1893.
Eight winners of the Nobel prize have been affiliated with the university.
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4. Stockholm University
Stockholm University was founded as a college in 1878 and has had university status since 1960.
It is home to more than 27,000 students.
The university is located in the world’s first national urban park and is surrounded by extensive woodland, plants and trees, including some 800 species of flowering plants and more than 100 species of birds, with the Baltic Sea inlet of Brunnsviken and beaches to its north.
However the university is also a short metro ride from the city centre so students can experience the city’s cultural attractions.
5. University of Gothenburg
The University of Gothenburg is Sweden’s second largest university and is also the third oldest.
The university has eight faculties and 38 departments, which means it is one of the most wide-ranging universities in Sweden.
The university has a number of impressive alumni including Arvid Carlsson, who won the Nobel prize for medicine in 2000, Jan Eliasson, a diplomat and politician, and Jonas Jonasson, an internationally renowned author.
Top universities in Sweden 2021
Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2021 results
| World University Rank 2021 | Sweden Rank 2021 | University | City |
| =36 | 1 | Karolinska Institute | Stockholm |
| =103 | 2 | Lund University | Lund |
| =111 | 3 | Uppsala University | Uppsala |
| 183 | 4 | Stockholm University | Stockholm |
| =191 | 5 | University of Gothenburg | Gothenburg |
| 201–250 | =6 | Chalmers University of Technology | Gothenburg |
| 201–250 | =6 | KTH Royal Institute of Technology | Stockholm |
| 351–400 | =8 | Örebro University | Örebro |
| 351–400 | =8 | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences | Uppsala |
| 351–400 | =8 | Umeå University | Umeå |
| 401–500 | 11 | Linköping University | Linköping |
| 801–1000 | 12 | Karlstad University | Karlstad |
Read more: Best universities in the world
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