Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers tekniska högskola
Gothenburg's foundation-owned technical university: Swedish-taught bachelor's degrees and English-taught master's.
- Students
- 10,999
- Tuition
- SEK 190K
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1829
- QS World Ranking
- #174
- 2027 edition
About Chalmers
Chalmers was founded in 1829 after a donation from William Chalmers, a director of the Swedish East India Company, to set up an industrial school in Gothenburg. It became state-owned in 1937 and in 1994 was turned into a private university company owned by the Chalmers University of Technology Foundation, a set-up the university says gives it more organisational freedom. In 2024 it had about 11,000 full-time students, nearly 1,000 PhD students and 3,235 staff, including 329 professors.
Chalmers focuses on engineering, natural sciences, architecture and maritime studies across departments such as Computer Science and Engineering, Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Physics, and Mechanics and Maritime Sciences. Its main campus is Johanneberg, and a second campus, Lindholmen, is on the island of Hisingen. It coordinates the Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology, a 12-year, SEK 1 billion national programme to build a Swedish quantum computer.
For international applicants the key fact is language. Chalmers' roughly 30 bachelor's programmes are all taught in Swedish and require Swedish at upper secondary level (Svenska 3) or the Tisus test. Only the fifth semester is taught in English. Almost all master's programmes are taught in English and open to international students, so most international students come to Chalmers for a master's.
Avancez
“Advance” — university motto
Why students choose Chalmers
Around 30 bachelor's programmes in engineering, science, shipping and architecture, with an English-taught fifth semester that is often used for exchange abroad.
Chalmers coordinates the Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology, Sweden's national quantum computing effort.
Chalmers runs its own admission tests, the mathematics and physics test and the architecture test, which give extra ways to compete for a bachelor's place.
Almost all master's programmes are taught in English and are open to international students.
Admissions
Autumn semester 2027
Selectivity
Chalmers publishes the admission score of the last admitted applicant per programme and selection group rather than an overall admit rate, and it deliberately admits more applicants than places to reduce reserve admissions. Applicants and admitted numbers are on the national UHR statistics site.
Typical entry requirements
| Swedish language | Svenska 3 / Svenska nivå 3 from Swedish upper secondary school, or a pass in the Tisus test, required for all bachelor's programmes |
|---|---|
| General and specific eligibility | Upper secondary qualifications meeting Swedish general entry requirements, plus programme-specific subjects (typically mathematics, physics and chemistry for engineering); a one-year technical foundation year (tekniskt basår) can fill gaps |
| English (for English-taught master's) | English 6 level via universityadmissions.se, e.g. IELTS Academic 6.5 with no section below 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 90 |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 90 Swedish English 6 standard used by University Admissions in Sweden: IELTS Academic 6.5 with no section below 5.5, or TOEFL iBT 90 with 20 in writing (4.5 with no section below 4 on the new scale). Relevant mainly for master's programmes, since bachelor's programmes are taught in Swedish. |
Deadlines
- English-taught master's programmes (universityadmissions.se) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months15 January 2027
Application period 16 October 2026 to 15 January 2027 for national and international students.
- Bachelor's programmes (antagning.se, autumn 2027) Non-binding In ~6 months15 April 2027
National autumn 2027 round: application opens 15 March 2027; application fee or proof of exemption due 23 April 2027. Programmes are taught in Swedish.
antagning.se still shows only the autumn 2026 round (16 March-15 April 2026); the autumn 2027 national round dates (15 March-15 April 2027, fee by 23 April) are from Stockholm University's important-dates page for the same UHR round. Master's dates are from Chalmers' key dates page.
How to apply
Apply for bachelor's programmes on antagning.se, Sweden's national portal, in the spring for autumn start; rank your choices and upload documents. Master's programmes taught in English are applied for on universityadmissions.se. Non-EU/EEA applicants pay the national application fee and, if admitted, tuition before applying for a residence permit.
What admissions looks for
- Proven Swedish at upper secondary level (Svenska 3) or a pass in the Tisus test.
- Strong upper secondary grades in the programme's required subjects, since grades are the main selection group.
- A good result in the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test or Chalmers' mathematics and physics test, which let you compete in extra selection groups.
- For architecture, a pass in the architecture test.
Tips for applying to Chalmers
- 1 Unless you already have Swedish at Svenska 3 level or can pass Tisus, a Chalmers bachelor's is not realistic; look at its English-taught master's programmes instead.
- 2 Take Chalmers' mathematics and physics test as well as the högskoleprovet: a weaker result in one selection group does not hurt you in another.
- 3 Check the last three years' admission scores that Chalmers publishes per programme before ranking your choices.
- 4 If you lack required maths, physics or chemistry, the technical foundation year (tekniskt basår) gives you the eligibility.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in SEK
Chalmers' scholarships for tuition-paying students are aimed at prospective master's students; some are run by Chalmers and some by external foundations. Tuition must be paid before applying for a residence permit.
- SEK 95,000 per semester
- Tuition, most programmes (2027/28)
- SEK 135,000 per semester
- Tuition, Industrial Design Engineering and Architecture (2027/28)
- Master's students only
- Scholarships
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (autumn and spring)
Architecture
Admission can include Chalmers' own architecture test; non-EU tuition is SEK 135,000 per semester from 2027/28.
Industrial Design Engineering
One of the two programme areas in Chalmers' higher fee band (SEK 135,000 per semester).
Shipping and maritime programmes
Merchant marine and shipping programmes are taught at Campus Lindholmen on Hisingen (in Swedish).
English-taught master's programmes
Almost all master's programmes are in English, with applications open 16 October 2026 to 15 January 2027.
Research
- The Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology, a 12-year SEK 1 billion national programme coordinated from Chalmers, aims to build a high-end quantum computer.
- Chalmers researchers produced 3,031 research publications in 2024.
- Gustaf Dalén, a Chalmers graduate, won the 1912 Nobel Prize in Physics for automatic regulators used in lighthouses.
Schools & faculties
- Architecture and Civil Engineering
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Industrial and Materials Science
- Life Sciences
- Mathematical Sciences
- Mechanics and Maritime Sciences
- Microtechnology and Nanoscience
- Physics
- Space, Earth and Environment
- Technology Management and Economics
Student life
Student life is run largely by the Chalmers Students' Union (Chalmers Studentkår), which operates the union building, sports, music and group rooms and a long list of societies and committees. The best-known tradition is the Cortège, an annual public procession, alongside the graduation ceremony. Student societies range from sports clubs to the Chalmers Aerospace Club, founded in 1981. Campus Lindholmen, on Hisingen, adds a second student community across the river.
- The Cortège, Chalmers' annual public student parade.
- Chalmers Students' Union with its own union building and societies.
- Chalmers Aerospace Club, founded in 1981.
- Two campuses, Johanneberg and Lindholmen, linked by tram and bus.
Location
Gothenburg is a port city on Sweden's west coast. The Johanneberg campus is close to the city centre, and Lindholmen sits on the island of Hisingen, linked by tram and bus. Chalmers estimates living costs of SEK 14,360-18,360 a month, with accommodation from SEK 4,000 to 8,000, so budget well above the Migration Agency's minimum.
Nearest airport: Göteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT)
Notable alumni
- GD Gustaf DalénNobel Prize in Physics 1912 for automatic lighthouse regulators; graduated from Chalmers in 1896
- VS Vera SandbergSweden's first female engineer, graduating from Chalmers in 1917
- IJ Ivar JacobsonSoftware engineering pioneer behind UML and the Rational Unified Process; electrical engineering degree from Chalmers
- LS Ludvig StrigeusProgrammer behind µTorrent, OpenTTD and early Spotify; master's in computer science and engineering from Chalmers
- LJ Leif JohanssonCEO of the Volvo Group 1997-2011 and chairman of Ericsson and AstraZeneca; MSc in mechanical engineering from Chalmers
- ML Martin LundstedtPresident and CEO of the Volvo Group; MSc in mechanical engineering from Chalmers
- SL Sigurd LewerentzArchitect; trained as a mechanical engineer at Chalmers
Frequently asked questions
Can I study a bachelor's at Chalmers in English?
No. All of Chalmers' roughly 30 bachelor's programmes are taught in Swedish and require Svenska 3 or the Tisus test; only the fifth semester is in English. Almost all master's programmes are taught in English.
What is the Chalmers application deadline for 2027?
For Swedish-taught bachelor's programmes, 15 April 2027 on antagning.se. For English-taught master's programmes, 15 January 2027 on universityadmissions.se.
How much is Chalmers tuition for non-EU students?
From 2027/28, SEK 95,000 per semester for most programmes and SEK 135,000 per semester for Industrial Design Engineering and Architecture. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens pay nothing.
Does Chalmers have its own admission test?
Yes. Besides grades and the national högskoleprovet, you can compete with Chalmers' mathematics and physics test and, for architecture, the architecture test.
How much does it cost to live in Gothenburg as a Chalmers student?
Chalmers estimates SEK 14,360-18,360 a month. The Swedish Migration Agency requires proof of SEK 10,656 a month for 13 months for a residence permit.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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