University of Gothenburg

About the University

The University of Gothenburg meets societal challenges with diverse knowledge. 37 000 students and 6 000 employees make the University a large and inspiring place to work and study, with a continuous flow of new knowledge and ideas. The University is located in Gothenburg, the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries.

Strong research and attractive study programmes attract scientists and students from all around the world. The University of Gothenburg is environmentally certified and works actively for sustainable development. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University of Gothenburg contributes to a better future.

The University of Gothenburg is the third-oldest of the current Swedish universities, and with 37 000 students and 6000 staff members, it is also among the largest universities in the Nordic countries.

Strong research and attractive study programmes attract scientists and students from all around the world. They offer new perspectives and help solve the major challenges facing the world.

The University of Gothenburg is environmentally certified and works actively for sustainable development. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

• Faculty of Health and Care Sciences (Sahlgrenska Academy)

  The Sahlgrenska Academy has a uniquely broad range in the field of health sciences.

  The faculty has six institutes in the fields of medicine, odontology and health care sciences. The concentration of these institutes in one faculty promotes efficient interdisciplinary collaboration.

  In many fields, research at Sahlgrenska Academy is of the highest international class. Examples include pharmacology, obesity, children’s health, odontology and cardiovascular disease.

  The faculty offers 18 study programmes. Many of the study programmes are the most popular in the country.

  The staff, equipment and premises of Sahlgrenska University Hospital and public dental service in Gothenburg are prerequisites of research and education carried out at Sahlgrenska Academy.

• Faculty of Science

  The Faculty of Science at the University of Gothenburg embraces all major areas in the fields of mathematics and natural sciences. The Faculty's profile areas include environmental, marine and life sciences. The base in environmental science is varied and comprises most subject areas with several dynamic research programmes. 

  Some of the biology departments are located near the Sahlgrenska Academy, an arrangement that provides a favourable base for the life sciences. In this area, the Faculty of Science and the Sahlgrenska Academy work together to stimulate common areas, such as cell and molecular biology. There are modern and well-equipped facilities for research in natural sciences and biotechnology at the Lundberg Laboratory.

  Departments:

  • Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
  • Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Department of Conservation
  • Department of Earth Sciences
  • Department of Marine Sciences
  • Department of Mathematical Sciences
  • Department of Physics

• Faculty of Arts

  The Faculty Board is the Faculty’s highest decision-making body. Professor Margareta Hallberg serves as Dean, and Professor Mats Andrén as Deputy Dean. The Faculty Board receives administrative support from the Faculty Office.
  The Faculty of Arts at the University of Gothenburg consists of six Departments:

  • Department of Cultural Sciences
  • Department of Historical Studies
  • Department of Languages and Literatures
  • Department of Literature, History of Ideas, and Religion
  • Department of Philosophy, Linguistics and Theory of Science
  • Department of Swedish

• Faculty of Fine Applied and Performing Arts

  The Faculty of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts at the University of Gothenburg offers undergraduate (first cycle) second cycle (master’s) and third cycle (doctoral) education, and also conducts research and artistic development work within a broad spectrum of disciplines such as: Independent Filmmaking, Photography, Music, Drama, Design, Crafts, Fine Arts and Literary Composition. It is this breadth and depth that makes the Faculty of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts unique in Europe.

  The Faculty's departments are: 

  • Valand Academy
  • HDK - Academy of Design and Crafts
  • The Academy of Music and Drama

• Faculty of Social Sciences

  The Faculty of Social Sciences has the highest number of undergraduates in the University. Many of the most popular programmes at the University of Gothenburg are to be found here.

  Psychology, European Studies, Social Work, Human Resource Development and Labour Relations. The SOM Institute (Society, Opinion, Media) carries out media research and a large number of statistic surveys every year, for instance in the run-up to elections to the Swedish Parliament.

  The faculty's programme in Public Administration was the first education programme to be accredited by the European Association for European Research.

  Departments:

  • Department of Psychology
  • Department of Social Work
  • Department of Sociology and Work Science
  • Department of Political Science

• School of Business, Economics and Law

  Research at the School of Business, Economics and Law helps clarify this leadership and approach to taking responsibility, and makes conveyance to students, our leaders of tomorrow, possible.

  The School of Business, Economics and Law has set lofty goals, aiming to educate internationally attractive students who have adopted a responsible attitude towards societal development and to perform top-quality research that helps identify solutions to complex global problems. The prerequisites already exist; some examples are breadth of disciplines, motivated and committed researchers, close cooperation and constant dialogue with the business and public sectors, ambitious and creative students and an international focus that has existed for 85 years.

  Departments:

  • Business Administration
  • Economics
  • Economy and Society
  • Law

• Faculty of Education

  The Faculty of Education is situated in the center of Gothenburg. The faculty has almost 7000 students and around 450 employees. From 1 January 2012 there are four departments at the faculty, where you also find the unit for Pedagogical Development and Interactive Learning (PIL), the Center for Vocational Skills and Knowledge, and the Unit for Academic Language.

  Our courses and programmes include pedagogy, didactics, child and youth studies, sports, and nutrition science.

  Teachers at the faculty are also involved in teacher education. Our research is about learning and teaching among children, adolescents and adults, and affects all types of school.

  Departments:

  • Department of education and special education
  • Department of education, communication and learning
  • Department of pedagogical, curricular and professional studies
  • Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science

• IT Faculty

  The IT Faculty consists mainly of the university parts of the two departments Applied Information Technology and Computer Science and Engineering. Both departments are common between the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology.

  The research at the departments spans the whole spectrum, from theoretical underpinnings to applied systems development. There is an extensive national and international collaboration with academia and industry. Research and education are both international with researchers and students from many different countries.

  Departments:

  • Applied Information Technology
  • Computer Science and Engineering 

History of the University

"Gothenburg University College" was established in 1891 with the help of private donations. The first classes were held by seven professors teaching seven subjects to twenty-one students, four of whom were women.

In 1907 it became an independent university college with the same status as the two national universities of Uppsala and Lund. University of Gothenburg was formally founded in 1954 through the amalgamation of this college with the Medical college, which had been established in 1949.

During the 1950s and 60s, the University expanded rapidly, moving from 500 students in the late 1940s to approximately 21,000 in the late 1960s. Today, University of Gothenburg has about 37 000 students, and almost 6000 employees. There are 38 departments in all, many of which rent facilities in old stone buildings and other properties in the centre of town. Several new university buildings have increased our "centralisation", and most of the departments are now located in the city centre. This has made the University of Gothenburg a truly urban university.

The main building, "Vasaparken" from 1907, with its square granite pillars and a monumental flight of steps flanked by two bronze lions, has been declared a historic building by the National Heritage Board. One of its functions today is to house public events under the auspices of the University.

Accreditation and rankings

• Utbildningsdepartementet, Sverige
• Swedish National Agency of Higher Education (SNAHE)
• European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD-EQUIS)

Gothenburg University places well in many rankings, usually among the world's best 150-200 universities:

Living and studying in Sweden

The Swedish currency is the krona. It is abbreviated SEK. To compare, SEK 100 is roughly EUR 11 or USD 12. (1 SEK = 8.19 RUB)

Students requiring a residence permit must, by law, demonstrate that they have funds of at least 860 EUR (SEK 7 974) per month for 10 months.

• Accommodation: 270-594 EUR/month (2500-5500 SEK/month);
• Food: 215 EUR/month (2000 SEK/month);
• Telephone and Internet: 32 EUR/month (300 SEK/month);
• Local travel (bus/tram): 47-62 EUR/month (435-580 SEK/month);
• Hobbies and leisure: 107 EUR/month (1000 SEK/month);
• Insurance, medical care: 32 EUR/month (300 SEK/month).

Total (approximately): 860 EUR/month (8000 SEK/month)

Why you should choose the University of Gothenburg

We are your stepping stone — regardless of where you are heading. 

Our University consists of future entrepreneurs, financial analysts, climate experts, top musicians, designers and many more. Not only does this make us interesting – you will benefit from an educational environment where different disciplines influence each other. We have unique interdisciplinary programmes in for example Business and Design, Language Technology, and Complex Adaptive Systems. We work closely with Chalmers University of Technology (a top technical university in Gothenburg), especially in the fields of information technology, physics, mathematics and chemistry.

Our methods of learning are for the independent minded. 

Our teaching staff and professors will encourage you to speak your mind, to question and to see problems from different angles. It’s all done in an open and welcoming environment where you can easily approach our professors in an informal manner. We take the issue of teaching methods very seriously; in 2015 the University introduced the title Excellent Teacher as a way to highlight teachers with excellent pedagogical proficiency. You can also expect to carry out many group assignments and projects alongside traditional lectures. Many of our faculties have close connections with corporations and organisations such as Volvo, Astra Zeneca and SKF.

We like people — diversity is key. 

We believe that diversity is crucial in order for research and education to flourish. Sweden has a long history of education for the people, not only for an academic elite. If you are from a country outside the EU/EEA and are therefore required to pay tuition in Sweden, there are scholarships you can apply for. You will study with people from different parts of the world, with different backgrounds and experiences. That in itself is valuable and prepares you for an international career.

Study on the West Coast, the Best Coast of Sweden. 

You will study in the very heart of Scandinavia, being only a train ride away from Copenhagen and Oslo and only a few hours by plane from Rome, Budapest, Berlin and Barcelona. You will benefit from being able to go from bustling city streets to the west coast archipelago or deep green forests in 30 minutes by public transport.

• University of Gothenburg Study Scholarship