Linköping University
Linköpings universitet
Sweden's sixth university, built in the 1970s around interdisciplinary research and engineering firsts.
- Students
- 46,200
- Tuition
- SEK 202.3K
- 2027-28
- Founded
- 1975
- QS World Ranking
- #308
- 2027 edition
About LiU
Linköping University (LiU) grew out of a branch of Stockholm University that opened in Linköping in 1967 and a college of engineering and medicine added two years later. It became Sweden's sixth university in 1975. It was the first in Sweden to offer degree programmes in Industrial Engineering and Management and in Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering (both 1969), and in 1975 it launched the country's first Computer Science and Engineering programme.
Today LiU has about 46,200 students (19,896 full-time equivalents) and 4,700 employees across four campuses: Campus Valla and Campus US in Linköping, Campus Norrköping in a former industrial district, and Campus Lidingö near Stockholm, home to the Malmsten furniture school. It is organised into four faculties (Arts and Sciences, Medicine and Health Sciences, Science and Engineering, and Educational Sciences) and 12 large cross-disciplinary departments. Its Department of Thematic Studies (1980) organised research around themes rather than disciplines, and its health sciences faculty was the first in Sweden to use problem-based learning.
Almost all undergraduate teaching is in Swedish. For international students, LiU's one English-taught bachelor's programme is Experimental and Industrial Biomedicine, alongside about 30 international master's programmes. It suits students who want engineering, computing or health sciences at a young, applied university with close links to industry.
Why students choose LiU
LiU pioneered several Swedish degree programmes, including Sweden's first Computer Science and Engineering programme in 1975.
The English-taught BSc in Experimental and Industrial Biomedicine combines lab training in drug discovery, systems biology and digital pathology with project management and bioentrepreneurship.
LiU says 9 in 10 graduates find jobs after graduation, and it has close ties to industry through Linköping and Norrköping science parks.
Linköping has been named Sweden's Student City of the Year three times, with overall-clad traditions and a well-known reception period for new students.
Admissions
Autumn 2027 entry
Selectivity
Sweden has no overall admit rate. Eligible applicants to each programme are ranked by merit rating (grades) and, in the national round, partly by the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test (högskoleprovet); competitiveness varies by programme.
Typical entry requirements
| General entry requirements | Completed upper secondary education meeting Sweden's general entry requirements for undergraduate studies, including English 6/English Level 2 |
|---|---|
| BSc Experimental and Industrial Biomedicine (specific requirements) | English, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics at the level of Swedish Engelska 6, Kemi 2, Biologi 2 and Matematik 4 (or the new-system equivalents) |
| Swedish-taught programmes | General entry requirements plus Swedish language proficiency and programme-specific subjects; applied for through antagning.se |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 90 Bachelor's level requires English 6/English Level 2: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no section below 5.5, or TOEFL iBT 90 with 20 in writing (tests taken up to 20 January 2026; for tests from 21 January 2026 the requirement is 4.5 on the 1-6 scale with no section below 4). PTE Academic 62 (writing 61). |
Deadlines
- International admission round (universityadmissions.se) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months15 January 2027
Applications open 16 October 2026. Application fee, proof of fee exemption and supporting documents due 1 February 2027. Bachelor's results published 8 April 2027.
- National admission round, autumn 2027 (antagning.se) Non-binding In ~6 months15 April 2027
Web application opens 15 March 2027; fee or proof of exemption due 23 April. Mainly for Swedish-taught programmes; non-EU students needing a residence permit are unlikely to have time to get one.
Dates are from universityadmissions.se, antagning.se and LiU's degree-studies page for autumn 2027. Some programmes close to late applicants after the January deadline.
How to apply
Apply to English-taught programmes through universityadmissions.se, ranking up to four choices, uploading diplomas, transcripts, proof of English and a passport copy. LiU does not ask for a CV, recommendation letters or a letter of intent. Swedish-taught programmes are applied for through antagning.se. Non-EU/EEA/Swiss applicants pay a SEK 900 application fee.
What admissions looks for
- Eligibility first: the general entry requirements plus the programme's specific subjects (for the biomedicine BSc, English, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics).
- A strong merit rating from upper secondary grades, which determines your place in the ranking of eligible applicants.
- Complete, verified documentation uploaded by the 1 February deadline.
- For the national round, a good Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test score can count for a share of places.
Tips for applying to LiU
- 1 Rank LiU's programme as your first choice on universityadmissions.se: you can list four, and scholarships at LiU require a first-priority choice.
- 2 Upload every document well before 1 February 2027; late documents make you a late applicant, and some programmes close after mid-January.
- 3 Check the country-specific document instructions on universityadmissions.se, as your school leaving certificate may already prove your English.
- 4 Join Linköping's student housing queues early: LiU does not provide accommodation to degree students and queues run on points per day registered.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in SEK
Fee-paying students can apply for the LiU International Scholarship, which normally cuts tuition by 50%, but it is aimed at master's students who rank LiU first and meet minimum grade standards. Swedish Institute scholarships also target master's students from eligible countries. There is no LiU scholarship scheme for the English-taught bachelor's.
- SEK 900
- Application fee (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)
- Normally 50% tuition reduction
- LiU International Scholarship (master's)
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (autumn and spring)
Experimental and Industrial Biomedicine (BSc, English-taught)
LiU's only English-taught bachelor's, designed with pharmaceutical and biotech companies; leads to a BSc in Medical Biology.
Industrial Engineering and Management
LiU was the first in Sweden to offer this programme, starting in 1969.
Computer Science and Engineering
Sweden's first Computer Science and Engineering programme was launched at LiU in 1975.
Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering
Another Swedish first from 1969; alumni include former Ericsson CEO Carl-Henric Svanberg.
Health sciences programmes
The first in Sweden to use problem-based learning, and the first in the world to let students from different health programmes treat patients on a student-run training ward.
Furniture design and craft (Malmstens)
The Carl Malmsten School of Furniture has been part of LiU since 2000, now on Campus Lidingö.
Research
- LiU hosts NAISS, the National Academic Infrastructure for Supercomputing in Sweden, funded mainly by the Swedish Research Council.
- The Department of Thematic Studies, founded in 1980, pioneered interdisciplinary theme-based research and research schools in Sweden.
- Campus Valla sits next to Linköping Science Park and government research institutes such as the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI).
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Faculty of Science and Engineering (Institute of Technology)
- Faculty of Educational Sciences
LiU reports that 9 in 10 graduates find jobs after graduation.
Student life
Student life at LiU is built around student unions and traditions. Students wear colourful patched overalls at the start of term and at parties, and Märkesbacken, which runs along the Corso on Campus Valla, is a fixture of campus life. The welcome period for new students, with tours, events and the Kalas party, is one of LiU's points of pride, and Linköping has been named Student City of the Year in Sweden three times. Campus Valla borders Valla Wood, a nature reserve, and free Campus Buses link the Linköping and Norrköping campuses.
- Student City of the Year in Sweden three times.
- Overall culture and the Märkesbacken tradition on Campus Valla, in Norrköping and at Campus US.
- Welcome programme for new students including the Kalas welcome party.
- Free Campus Bus between the Valla, US and Norrköping campuses.
Housing. LiU does not offer accommodation to degree students; housing comes from local landlords (Heimstaden and Studentbostäder in Linköping, Studentbo and SBS Studentbostäder in Norrköping) through points-based queues.
Location
Linköping is a university and high-tech city in south-east Sweden, about 200 km south-west of Stockholm. Campus Valla lies 3 km from the centre next to a science park and a nature reserve, while Campus US is by the university hospital. Campus Norrköping occupies former textile factories along the Motala ström river, 40 km away. LiU estimates living costs at about SEK 10,000 a month.
Nearest airport: Linköping City Airport (LPI); Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) for most international flights
Notable alumni
- CS Carl-Henric SvanbergFormer CEO of Ericsson and chairman of BP and Volvo; Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering alumnus
- AN Andreas NorlénSpeaker of the Swedish Riksdag; master's degree and PhD in commercial and business law
- ÅL Åsa LindhagenFormer Swedish minister for gender equality; master's in engineering
- MB Mattias BergbomAcademy Award winner for Best Visual Effects
- NE Nashwa EassaPhysicist and founder of Sudanese Women in Science; international master's in materials physics and nanotechnology
- RG Rickard GustafsonCEO of SKF
- SS Sami SaidAuthor
Frequently asked questions
Does Linköping University offer bachelor's degrees in English?
Yes, one: the three-year BSc in Experimental and Industrial Biomedicine. Other bachelor's programmes are taught in Swedish, while LiU offers about 30 English-taught master's programmes.
When is the application deadline for autumn 2027?
15 January 2027 on universityadmissions.se for English-taught programmes (opens 16 October 2026, documents and fee due 1 February). Swedish-taught programmes close on antagning.se on 15 April 2027.
How much does Linköping University cost for international students?
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens pay no tuition. Others pay a SEK 900 application fee and, for the biomedicine BSc, SEK 607,000 in total over three years, plus about SEK 10,000 a month for living costs.
What IELTS score does Linköping University require?
For bachelor's programmes, IELTS Academic 6.5 with no section below 5.5, or TOEFL iBT 90 with 20 in writing (tests before 21 January 2026), which matches Sweden's English 6 requirement.
Does LiU guarantee student housing?
No. LiU does not provide accommodation to degree students, so you should join local student housing queues as early as possible.
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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