25 Best Universities In Sweden For International Students 2025

If you are looking to study in Sweden, you are surely making a great choice. This location has a lot to offer for international students, including world-class universities and exciting student experiences. With more than 39 universities and colleges in Sweden, you’ll surely have a wide range of choices.

Out of 39 universities in Sweden, Lund University and Karolinska Institute are the top-performing schools in Sweden. This list covers both public and private institutions in Sweden.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in Sweden. We based our rankings on academic reputations from reputable sources and the number of international students. By doing this, you’ll have an efficient way of comparing your target universities and choose your host university in Sweden.

How do I get admission to the best universities in Sweden?

Applying to the universities in Sweden involves submitting requirements and following specific admissions procedures set by your chosen university. The requirements often include a student visa, application packages, and language scores. Check out our guide for international students who want to study in Sweden to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

How much are the tuition fees at the best universities in Sweden?

Tuition fees at Sweden’s universities can vary depending on which university, degree, and program you will be enrolling in. Generally, tuition fees for the bachelor’s level range from 0 kr to 1,488,000 kr , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 69,100 kr to 728,000 kr. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in Sweden!

As we cover the best universities in Sweden for international students, feel free to check out the university’s information on Admission, Tuition, Courses, and Language Requirements by looking at the individual university pages.

Top Universities in Sweden for International Students

There are few universities in Scandinavia, much less Sweden, that could exceed the academic might of Lund University. This prestigious institution is sought-after in Europe, by locals and international students alike, for its diverse programs, quality education, and high employability of graduates. Such excellence can be attributed to centuries of experience, as Lund University is one of the oldest in Northern Europe. Moreover, it has committed itself to research, which advances society and knowledge. Research also provides opportunities for students to hone skills and better their intellect. All these, and more, affirm the university’s reputation in Sweden and worldwide.

The Karolinska Institute, sometimes known as the Royal Caroline Institute, is a research medical university located in the city of Solna, Sweden. This university is well-known amongst international students because of its incredible ratings and amazing facilities. This university accepts the brightest and most talented students, who after graduation go out to become experts in their chosen fields.

Experience is the greatest teacher, and with centuries worth of such, there is no doubt that Uppsala University has learned much about how to provide the best quality education in the Nordic region. It has played invaluable roles in Swedish history, started academic trends (like the white student cap), and influenced the lives of its thousands of alums, faculty, staff, and students. As Uppsala University forges on even better than before, we can only expect it to continue doing all those things (and more).

As it proceeds into the future, the university prioritizes these things: quality, internationalization, infrastructure, talent attraction, career systems, support, and environment. Working towards these goals inevitably leads to better education, so there’s no better time than now to join Uppsala University.

For the QS World University Rankings 2023, the KTH (Kungliga Tekniska högskolan) Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm secured a spot in the elite 100 worldwide. This incredible feat can be attributed to the institution’s high quality of education and research. Such impressive quality is made possible by over a century of expertise in engineering and technical disciplines. Thus, when you look into KTH’s undergraduate and graduate programs, they are all centered around their specialized fields. This ensures students receive nothing less than premier training.

Stockholm University is a public research institution in Stockholm, Sweden. This institution is one of the largest in Scandinavia, with over 33,000 domestic and international students. The main programs that are offered at this university are focused on psychology, art, and history, from which students can gather important information from some of the best professors in the nation.

The Chalmers University of Technology proves that Swedish private institutions have as much to offer as their public counterparts. It does so by being one of the country’s (and the world’s) premier universities, placing in the top 200 global charts. The name Chalmers was derived from its first benefactor, William Chalmers, whose donation led to the university’s establishment. Mr. Chalmers’ generosity sprung forth a top-tier school centered on scientific excellence in technology and the natural sciences.

Chalmers is also committed to research and innovation. It coordinates the Graphene Flagship, the EU’s largest research initiative. Moreover, the university is working on creating a Swedish quantum computer. These efforts (and more) reflect Chalmers’ motto: Avancez or moving forward.

Since 1975, Linkoping University has become essential to Swedish education history. Besides being the sixth university founded in the country, it was also the first to offer these programs in Sweden: industrial engineering, management, applied physics, electrical engineering, computer science, and computer engineering.

After it has grown into a community of four campuses, the institution’s drive to contribute more only intensifies. Thus, Linkoping University fiercely promotes innovation and research among its students. In doing so, students learn how to push boundaries and are creative in searching for solutions that address societal problems. Such skills make the university’s graduates an asset in and out of Sweden.

Umea University is a public research institution that is located in Umea, in the mid-northern region of the beautiful country of Sweden. The university was established in 1965 and it is considered the fifth-oldest higher education institution within Sweden’s borders. Aside from offering high-quality programs, the university is also known for having affordable tuition fees.

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences is one of the best universities in Sweden, and it is ranked among the top 300 universities in the world. This university was established in 1977 and is located in the city of Uppsala, currently home to over 4,000 enrollees. The main areas of study available at this university include agriculture, animal science, and forest and landscape.

The Lulea University of Technology is one of the most established higher-degree universities in the world. This university was founded in 1971 and specializes in the field of technology. It focuses on teaching the most advanced technical procedures and provides modern equipment for students. Several of its programs are conducted in the English language.

Orebro University is a well-known public university in the Swedish town of Orebro. This university offers master’s and doctoral degrees. The main achievement of this university is the incredible alumni that have come through this institution, including great individuals such as Lars Adaktusson, a member of the European Parliament, and Hans Karlsson, a Minister for Employment.

Jonkoping University is dedicated to producing a generation of talented professionals who shall be at the top of their field. The institution provides internationalization, entrepreneurship, and collaboration opportunities, including student exchange programs, research, and more. These three aspects are critical in forwarding professions amid digitalization and globalization. Several specialized programs are offered annually, including marketing, management, design, and more.

Karlstad University has a long history in the field of education. It started its journey as a campus for the University of Gothenburg but later became an independent university. It was recognized as a fully fledged university in 1999. The main advantages of this university are that it offers all levels of study in distinguished fields such as law, economics, and music, from which students can benefit from great educational experiences from renowned professors.

There are few schools where you can better learn the ins and outs of finance and business than the Stockholm School of Economics. This private institution is among the best worldwide. Indeed, referring to the QS World University Rankings 2022, SES placed 64th for economics and econometrics, 19th for master’s in finance, and 30th for master’s in management. These figures are only a glimpse of the excellence this business school offers. That’s because, besides quality education, SES provides a valuable network and connection to the business community.

Linnaeus University is a public university located in the city of Växjö, Sweden. Although it is a young university just founded in 2010, it is recognized as one of the best-performing universities in the country. Linnaeus was built on the principle of helping the country by providing top-quality education with affordable tuition fees and great facilities.

Malmö University is one of the most well-known universities in its region. This university is a staple of formal education in Sweden. It is known for its affordable prices, open scholarships, and administrative programs that allow students to pursue exceptional academic careers. The university has valuable partnerships with over 240 prestigious universities, giving its students access to more opportunities for learning.

Halmstad University is a traditional public university that was established in 1983. This university is well-known for providing and offering bachelor’s and master’s programs in a variety of fields of study, as well as the opportunity to continue their Ph.D. studies for some of the degrees offered. The main advantage that this university possesses is the fact that the tuition fees are affordable, and it also offers almost all programs in both English and Swedish.

Malardalens University is a world-renowned university that offers the best formal education possible. It was established in 1977 and is located in the city of Vasteras, Sweden. Within its modern campuses, the university offers programs in the fields of analytical finance, chamber music, and analytical engineering for both undergraduates and graduates.

The name Mittuniversitetet, or Mid Sweden University in English, perfectly fits the institution that sits at the heart of Sweden. This two-campus university has campuses in Sundsvall and Östersund, which are geographically convenient. Beyond location, the high education quality and core values also draw students to Mittuniversitetet, whether they are local or foreign. The institution respects fundamental values, such as equality and diversity, foundational to optimized learning.

Besides the values, location, and overall excellent education quality, Mid Sweden University ups the bar by providing international or English-taught programs. This makes the transition easier for international students and provides opportunities for locals to pursue English courses.

The Blekinge Institute of Technology is one of the most well-known technological universities in the country. This university is located in the city of Karlskrona, and it was established in 1989. The main attractive programs at this university are sustainability management, business administration, and computer science, which are supported by some of the best-established facilities for theoretical and practical work.

Dalarna University was established in 1977 as the main public university in the region of Falun, Sweden. This university offers all levels of study and is specialized in the fields of economics, applied English linguistics, and international tourism management, from which students can benefit from many support packages in the form of scholarships. The main objective of this university is to improve the literacy rate in the country by supporting formal education.

The Södertörn University is a well-established public institution that houses over 13,000 domestic and international students that study in fields such as economics, management, and art history. The university is located in Huddinge, Sweden, and was established in 1966. This institution is mostly focused on providing master’s degree studies comprised of great professors and excellent teaching facilities.

The University of Skövde is a public institution that offers higher degree studies and specializes in one- and two-year master’s degrees. This university offers programs in various fields of study, such as business, law, and game development, and the main advantage of this university is that the lectures are taught by renowned professors recognized as experts in the field of education.

The University of Boras, also known as the University College of Boras, is a Swedish institution that primarily offers tertiary-level programs, from bachelor’s to doctorate. It has access to crucial resources and facilities, including the Swedish School of Textiles. Thus, there is no surprise that most of the university’s English-taught programs are related to fashion and textiles. Besides such subjects, the University of Boras also covers different disciplines through its faculties in engineering, business, caring science, social welfare, economics, IT, and more.