Umeå University Summary
Umeå University is one of Sweden’s leading public research universities and a key centre for higher education in northern Sweden. The university is located in Umeå, the largest city in northern Sweden and is known for strong research, international education, student satisfaction, innovative learning environments and a broad academic portfolio spanning medicine, science, technology, social sciences, humanities, education, business, design, fine arts, public health, life sciences and sustainability. It is a “comprehensive” university. This means that it offers study and research in many fields, not just one discipline.
Students looking for a Swedish university experience away from the largest southern cities will find Umeå University particularly attractive. The university offers a lively campus culture, state-of-the-art infrastructure and active student life and close co-operation with hospitals, research centres, public organizations, creative industries, design milieus, cultural institutions and local employers. Umeå is also known for its student friendliness, northern lifestyle, culture, music, sports, nature and access to a different Sweden than Stockholm, Gothenburg or Lund.
Umeå University has options for international students at undergraduate level with English taught bachelor level options. One important pathway is the Bachelor of Science Program in Life Science. This program is for students interested in biology, chemistry, molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology, laboratory methods, biomedical research and future life science careers. Umeå also offers international design education through Umeå Institute of Design, where fee-paying bachelor’s study in industrial design has a separate fee structure. Many other bachelor and professional programmes at Umeå are in Swedish and require knowledge of Swedish.
Umeå University is very strong for international applicants at master’s level. The university offers more than 45 degree programs taught completely in English and covering study areas in public health, molecular biology, ecology, chemistry, cognitive science, human-computer interaction, interaction design, transportation design, product design, robotics and control, artificial intelligence, data science, finance, marketing, management, economics, political science, sociology, education, public administration, environmental science, tourism, sustainable production and life science-related fields. Students have a wide choice of English-taught postgraduate options in both research and professionally orientated fields.
Umeå University has a broad research environment at doctoral level within medicine, science and technology, social sciences, humanities, education, arts and interdisciplinary areas. For PhD candidates, the application process is usually through advertised doctoral positions linked to departments, supervisors, research groups and funded projects. Doctoral research can be done in areas such as medicine, molecular biology, public health, epidemiology, neuroscience, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, ecology, environmental science, education, political science, sociology, business, economics, psychology, language, literature, history, design and fine arts.
Tuition rates vary by program and citizenship. Generally, citizens of the EU/EEA/Switzerland do not pay tuition fees. Students from outside EU/EEA/Switzerland normally pay the Swedish application fee of SEK 900 through UniversityAdmissions.se and program-specific tuition fees, if admitted. Umeå University says the tuition fees for degree programs and full-time study are between SEK 96,600 and SEK 395,700 per year depending on the field. Total fee for the Bachelor of Science Program in Life Science is SEK 456,900 First installment is SEK 76,150. The bachelor's industrial design program at Umeå Institute of Design costs SEK 963,900 for the full 3 years. The university also offers scholarships to talented high-achieving students from outside the EU/EEA studying English-language degree programs. Selection is on the basis of academic merit.
Overall, Umeå University is best for students wanting a respected Swedish research university with strong English-taught programs, northern Sweden exposure, high student satisfaction, modern campus life and career pathways in life sciences, medicine, public health, IT, design, business, sustainability, education, humanities, social sciences and doctoral research.
Students looking for a Swedish university experience away from the largest southern cities will find Umeå University particularly attractive. The university offers a lively campus culture, state-of-the-art infrastructure and active student life and close co-operation with hospitals, research centres, public organizations, creative industries, design milieus, cultural institutions and local employers. Umeå is also known for its student friendliness, northern lifestyle, culture, music, sports, nature and access to a different Sweden than Stockholm, Gothenburg or Lund.
Umeå University has options for international students at undergraduate level with English taught bachelor level options. One important pathway is the Bachelor of Science Program in Life Science. This program is for students interested in biology, chemistry, molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology, laboratory methods, biomedical research and future life science careers. Umeå also offers international design education through Umeå Institute of Design, where fee-paying bachelor’s study in industrial design has a separate fee structure. Many other bachelor and professional programmes at Umeå are in Swedish and require knowledge of Swedish.
Umeå University is very strong for international applicants at master’s level. The university offers more than 45 degree programs taught completely in English and covering study areas in public health, molecular biology, ecology, chemistry, cognitive science, human-computer interaction, interaction design, transportation design, product design, robotics and control, artificial intelligence, data science, finance, marketing, management, economics, political science, sociology, education, public administration, environmental science, tourism, sustainable production and life science-related fields. Students have a wide choice of English-taught postgraduate options in both research and professionally orientated fields.
Umeå University has a broad research environment at doctoral level within medicine, science and technology, social sciences, humanities, education, arts and interdisciplinary areas. For PhD candidates, the application process is usually through advertised doctoral positions linked to departments, supervisors, research groups and funded projects. Doctoral research can be done in areas such as medicine, molecular biology, public health, epidemiology, neuroscience, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, ecology, environmental science, education, political science, sociology, business, economics, psychology, language, literature, history, design and fine arts.
Tuition rates vary by program and citizenship. Generally, citizens of the EU/EEA/Switzerland do not pay tuition fees. Students from outside EU/EEA/Switzerland normally pay the Swedish application fee of SEK 900 through UniversityAdmissions.se and program-specific tuition fees, if admitted. Umeå University says the tuition fees for degree programs and full-time study are between SEK 96,600 and SEK 395,700 per year depending on the field. Total fee for the Bachelor of Science Program in Life Science is SEK 456,900 First installment is SEK 76,150. The bachelor's industrial design program at Umeå Institute of Design costs SEK 963,900 for the full 3 years. The university also offers scholarships to talented high-achieving students from outside the EU/EEA studying English-language degree programs. Selection is on the basis of academic merit.
Overall, Umeå University is best for students wanting a respected Swedish research university with strong English-taught programs, northern Sweden exposure, high student satisfaction, modern campus life and career pathways in life sciences, medicine, public health, IT, design, business, sustainability, education, humanities, social sciences and doctoral research.