Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

About SLU

SLU is the only university in Sweden that possesses the collective knowledge about how to use natural, biological land and water resources in a sustainable manner. As producers, consumers and citizens, humankind forms parts of the entire chain.

SLU is research-intensive and home to leading-edge competence not just in natural sciences, but also in the humanities and social sciences. These disciplines, in research and education alike, are linked by issues that concern production, the environment, health and the quality of life.

SLU also bears special responsibility for environmental monitoring and assessment through its assignment to report on environmental conditions to national authorities and international bodies.

New findings from SLU are in great demand from both trade and industry and society’s decision-makers. SLU also works to meet global challenges such as food supply and climate change. In other words, SLU is a broad-based international university

• Faculty of Forest Sciences

• Faculty of Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Crop Production Science (LTV)

• Faculty of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences (NJ)

  At the NJ Faculty, we conduct a wide range of research, teaching and environmental monitoring and assessment in the fields of agriculture and environment.. Examples are sustainable food production, bioenergy and industrial raw materials. Our work is about the sustainable use of land, water and biological natural resources. The focus is on the natural sciences, but we are also active in the social science and the humanities.

• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (VH)

  At the Faculty of Veterinary Medicin and Animal Sciences we work with most aspects of our animal's lives and health, including farm animals as well as sports animals and pets.

  The faculty is the only one in Sweden with the competence to carry out advanced, large-scale research with cattle, pigs, horses and poultry, as well as clinical research with these species and dogs and cats. Studies of animal diseases, their origins and modes of transmission can also lead to further understanding of human diseases.

  Humans are as owners of livestock and pets, but also as consumer of animal food with the right to expect safe food produced in sustainable systems with good animal welfare.
  Our thematic breadth is extensive, from animal husbandry, animal health and welfare, food safety and quality well to public health. In all these areas, we do resaerch and educate at undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels.
  The Faculty's education programs are popular. Many of them are among the most popular in Sweden. The courses combine theory and practice and the students have very good opportunities to find work after graduation.
  The Faculty's research is among the world's top, with research networks that are world leaders in their fields.

History of SLU

The university was formed in 1977 by combining three existing separate colleges for veterinary medicine, forestry and agriculture, as well as some smaller units into one organisation. At the same time, the Veterinary college and Forestry college were moved fromStockholm to Ultuna, which already was the main campus of the Agricultural college. The locations used by the two relocated colleges are today used by the Stockholm University.

These colleges had a long history as separate institutions. The Veterinary Institution in Skara was founded in 1775 and was headed by Peter Hernqvist, a student of both Carl von Linné and of Claude Bourgelat, who founded the first veterinary college in Lyon in 1762. From 1821 a new veterinary institution in Stockholm took over the training of veterinarians from Skara. The Institute of Forestry was founded in Stockholm in 1828 to provide higher education to those who had gone through practical forestry schools, and was made into a college 1915. An agricultural institute was founded in Ultuna in 1848 and in Alnarp in 1862, under the supervision of the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture, founded in 1813. These institutes, and the experimental activities conducted by the Academy from 1814, were the basis of the Agricultural college, which was created in 1932.

Accreditation

• Institutional Accreditation or Recognition - Utbildningsdepartementet, Sverige
• Other Specialized or Programmatic Accreditations - Swedish National Agency of Higher Education (SNAHE)

Student life @SLU

Student unions

Like all students in Sweden, those at SLU have the opportunity to become a member of a student union.  At SLU there are eight different student unions, and students can join one union depending on the programme they are enrolled in.

• The Joint Committee of Student Unions (SLUSS)
• Alnarp student union
• Umeå Student Union for Forestry Students
• Ultuna International Committee

Campuses

SLU’s campuses and research facilities are spread throughout Sweden, with three main campuses located in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala.  Though each campus differs in size and structure, they all have a warm, friendly and inspiring atmosphere. SLU currently has over 4000 students and 700 research students enrolled and conducts a range of teaching and research activities throughout the country. 

Alnarp

SLU’s Alnarp campus is situated in a large park by the sea, west of Lund, north of Malmö and east of Copenhagen.  This prime location makes Alnarp a gateway to the rest of Europe.  Here, students can take part in the many academic, social and sporting activities, relax in the countryside and enjoy the metropolitan nightlife.

Skara

SLU’s Skara campus is located in the town centre.  With a population of only 20 000, the University plays a significant roll in Skara life.  As Skara is a small town, most facilities are within walking distance of the campus.  

Skinnskatteberg

Skinnskatteberg is located in the heart of Bergslagen, and lies in close proximity to the Övre Vättern and Nedre Vättern lakes.  While there are only 4 800 inhabitants in Skinnskatteberg, the county itself is quite large and provides plenty of wide-open space.  In fact, students at SLU’s Skinnskatteberg campus have access to 3000 hectares of hunting ground.

Umeå

SLU’s Umeå campus is an inspiring and picturesque learning environment.  Surrounded by deep green forests, scenic parks and clear, blue lakes, it is easy to see why Umeå is the fastest growing city in Sweden.  With 110 000 inhabitants, Umeå is the largest city in Norrland, and each year over 800 000 people pass through Umeå's airport.  It takes less than an hour to fly from Umeå to Stockholm, and four hours to fly to Brussels.

Uppsala

Uppsala is Sweden’s forth-largest city, and the hub of SLU’s educational activities. Located just outside of the city centre, SLU’s Uppsala campus is spacious, leafy and picturesque.  It is a fitting setting for Sweden’s only agricultural university, and possibly the most research-intensive of all universities. With two universities located in Uppsala, students can enjoy a lively, dynamic and stimulating atmosphere.

• Scholarships by SLU