University of Borås

Key Highlights

• Recognized by the Swedish Higher Education Authority as a Swedish university college
• Founded in 1977
• Organized across four faculties
• Approximately 19,500 registered students and 6,579 full-time-equivalent students in the 2025 annual report
• The Swedish School of Textiles and Swedish School of Library and Information Science are part of the institution

Student Life & Environment

The main campus occupies modern, purpose-built buildings in central Borås. Academic and everyday services are concentrated within walking distance of shops, supermarkets, restaurants, banks, and the central bus and railway station. Campus facilities described by the university include the library, group-study rooms, a student bookstore, restaurants and cafés, student kitchens, IT support, and Student Reception. The university also conducts some teaching in Varberg, so applicants should verify the location attached to their programme. Students can access Student Health Care, including a nurse and social counsellors, as well as study and career counselling. Student Reception coordinates practical support and can help arrange measures such as note-taking assistance, educational interpreting, extended examination time, and mentoring when eligibility requirements are met. The Student Union represents students in university councils and committees and organizes activities. Entrepreneurial support is available through Drivhuset, a collaboration between the university and Student Union that offers education, guidance, and workspace for people developing businesses. International and domestic students may also find opportunities to study or undertake placements abroad, although availability depends on the programme. Housing requires early planning. The university explicitly states that accommodation is not guaranteed and that students are responsible for securing it. International Office guidance is available, but degree students should not expect university-managed housing. Families may face particular difficulty because many student properties do not accommodate children.

Location & Surroundings

Borås is in southwestern Sweden, approximately 60 kilometres east of Gothenburg. The university’s principal campus is at the end of Allégatan in the city centre, about a ten-minute walk from Resecentrum, the main railway and bus station. This compact setting places teaching buildings close to everyday services and makes regional commuting possible by public transport. The location may appeal to students who want a city-centre campus without living in one of Sweden’s largest metropolitan areas. Gothenburg’s relative proximity broadens access to a larger regional labour market and transport hub, but commuting times and costs should be checked against an individual schedule. Not all study is tied to the main campus: the university conducts some teaching in Varberg, and its catalogue also identifies distance or no-obligatory-attendance formats. Prospective residents should distinguish campus convenience from housing availability. The university does not guarantee accommodation, and finding a room or apartment can be time-consuming. Students are advised to search before arriving and to arrange temporary lodging in advance if permanent housing has not been secured.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Tuition liability depends primarily on citizenship and residence status. As stated on the university’s page updated in January 2026, citizens of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland generally do not pay application or tuition fees. Most other applicants to bachelor’s and master’s study must pay fees unless an exemption applies. Doctoral applicants and registered doctoral students are not charged application or tuition fees. For applicants subject to the national application fee, the university’s admissions guide states SEK 900. The university does not publish one institution-wide tuition figure because charges vary by programme. Applicants should use the relevant 2026/2027 programme page for the first instalment and total tuition. University of Borås scholarships are limited to selected tuition-paying master’s applicants and reduce tuition by approximately 75 percent; they do not cover living expenses. The autumn 2026 scholarship round is closed, and the page says applications for autumn 2027 will open in December. Scholarships are not offered there for bachelor’s or artistic programmes. Housing and living costs must be budgeted separately. Accommodation is not guaranteed, and students may need temporary lodging while searching. The university’s living-cost page still cites a 2025 maintenance estimate, so it should not be treated as the current 2026 residence-permit threshold. Career Services offers counselling on career planning, application letters, and interviews. Its job page also points students and alumni to part-time work and internship notices, although that listing is in Swedish. Opportunities and outcomes vary by field, and the university does not provide verified institution-wide salary or placement statistics on the sources reviewed.