University of Gothenburg
Göteborgs universitet
A city-centre university of almost 58,000 students with eleven English-taught bachelor's programmes and seven faculties.
- Students
- 57,779
- Tuition
- SEK 97,000
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1891
- QS World Ranking
- #225
- 2027 edition
About GU
The University of Gothenburg began in 1891 as Gothenburg University College, founded with private donations from the city's merchants, and became a full university in 1954 when it merged with the city's medical college. It is now one of Sweden's largest universities: in 2025 it had 57,779 students (30,309 full-time equivalents), 1,921 doctoral students and 6,692 staff, with research grants of SEK 2.4 billion.
Teaching and research are organised in seven faculties and 38 departments: the Artistic Faculty, the Faculty of Education, the Faculty of Humanities, the Faculty of Science and Technology, the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Sahlgrenska Academy (medicine, dentistry and health sciences) and the School of Business, Economics and Law, which holds EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA accreditation. Most departments sit in the centre of Gothenburg rather than on a separate campus.
Most bachelor's programmes are taught in Swedish, but the university lists eleven English-taught bachelor's programmes: Business and Economics, International Relations, Computer Science and AI, Software Engineering and Management, and seven fine arts, crafts and music programmes. It suits independent students who want a broad, city-based university and are comfortable with Swedish-style teaching, where selection is based on grades rather than essays or interviews for most programmes.
Tradita innovare innovata tradere
“Renew our heritage and pass it on renewed” — university motto
Why students choose GU
Eleven bachelor's programmes are taught entirely in English, including Business and Economics at a triple-accredited business school with a semester abroad built in.
The Computer Science and AI programme is run by a department shared with Chalmers University of Technology, and most courses are taken with Chalmers engineering students.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens pay no tuition, and non-EU fees for social science programmes are about SEK 97,000 a year.
The Sahlgrenska Academy is ranked 10th in the world for Dentistry in the QS subject rankings 2025, and Arvid Carlsson won the 2000 Nobel Prize in Medicine for work done at the university.
Admissions
Autumn semester 2027
Selectivity
The university does not publish an overall admission rate. For bachelor's programmes, eligible applicants compete on their upper secondary grade average (66% of places) and the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test, SweSAT (34% of places); chances depend on how many places a programme has. Fine arts and music programmes select on work samples, interviews or admission tests.
Typical entry requirements
| General entry requirements | Completed upper secondary education, English equivalent to Swedish English 6, and mathematics equal to Swedish Mathematics 1a, 1b or 1c |
|---|---|
| Business and Economics / Software Engineering and Management | Mathematics 3b or 3c (Business and Economics also Social studies 1b or 1a1 + 1a2) |
| Computer Science and AI | Mathematics 4 or Mathematics D, plus English 6 |
| International Relations | General entry requirements and English 6 only |
| Swedish-taught programmes | Swedish 3 or Swedish as a second language 3, plus programme-specific subjects |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 90 English 6 via University Admissions in Sweden: IELTS Academic 6.5 with no section below 5.5; TOEFL iBT 90 with 20 in writing for tests taken up to 20 January 2026, or 4.5 on the new 1-6 scale with no section below 4 for tests from 21 January 2026. Certain upper secondary or university studies can also meet the requirement. |
Deadlines
- First admissions round (international) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months15 January 2027
Opens 16 October 2026. Application fee and supporting documents due 1 February 2027; bachelor's results published 8 April 2027. The university recommends this round for all international students.
- Second admissions round (national, incl. Swedish-taught programmes) Non-binding In ~6 months15 April 2027
Opens 15 March 2027 via antagning.se or universityadmissions.se. Results on 9 July 2027, too late for most students who need a residence permit.
Dates are from University Admissions in Sweden's autumn semester 2027 schedule and the university's programme pages, which list 16 October 2026 to 15 January 2027 for English-taught programmes starting on 30 August 2027.
How to apply
Apply online at universityadmissions.se (English) or antagning.se (Swedish), ranking up to four programmes in the first round. Upload transcripts, diploma and proof of English; non-EU/EEA/Swiss applicants pay a SEK 900 application fee. Arts and music programmes also require work samples or admission tests.
What admissions looks for
- Completed upper secondary education that meets Sweden's general entry requirements, including English 6 and basic mathematics.
- The programme's specific subjects, such as Mathematics 3b/3c for Business and Economics or Mathematics 4 for Computer Science and AI.
- A strong upper secondary grade average, which decides two-thirds of the places on most bachelor's programmes.
- For fine arts and music programmes, artistic ability shown in work samples, interviews or admission tests.
Tips for applying to GU
- 1 Apply in the first round by 15 January 2027 if you need a residence permit; the second round's July results leave too little time.
- 2 Rank your choices carefully: you can apply for up to four programmes in the first round, and the Axel Adler fee-waiver scholarship requires a Gothenburg programme as your first priority.
- 3 Check the programme page for the full cost: SEK 291,000 for Business and Economics or International Relations, SEK 441,000 for the computing programmes.
- 4 Start looking for housing as soon as you apply: the university warns the wait for student housing in Gothenburg can be a year or more.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in SEK
The Axel Adler Scholarship, the university's main scheme for fee-paying students, is a tuition fee waiver for international bachelor's and master's programmes; to be eligible you must list a University of Gothenburg programme as your first priority and complete your application by the first-round deadlines. Details for 2027 are published in October 2026. The SEK 900 application fee is non-refundable, and new students pay the first tuition instalment by 1 May.
- SEK 900
- Application fee (non-EU/EEA)
- SEK 48,500
- First tuition instalment, Business and Economics (autumn 2027)
- Tuition fee waiver for fee-paying students on international programmes
- Axel Adler Scholarship
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (autumn semester starts late August; 60 credits per year)
Bachelor's Programme in Business and Economics
Fully in English at a triple-crown accredited school, with majors in business administration, economics or financial economics and a semester abroad.
Bachelor's Programme in Computer Science and AI
Two tracks, CS and a mathematically demanding AI track, taught mainly at Chalmers' Johanneberg campus with Chalmers engineering students.
Bachelor's Programme in International Relations
Covers diplomacy, sustainability and conflict resolution, with an optional internship; needs only general entry requirements and English 6.
Software Engineering and Management
Leads to a BSc in Software Engineering; graduates work as developers, testers, product owners and data scientists.
Läkarprogrammet (Medical Programme)
A 12-semester Sahlgrenska Academy degree leading to a Swedish medical licence; taught only in Swedish.
Bachelor of Fine Arts programmes
Scandinavia's largest academy of arts offers English-taught BFAs in opera, classical music, crafts, metal art and furniture design.
Research
- Arvid Carlsson, the 2000 Nobel laureate in Medicine, did his research on the brain's signal substances at the university.
- Research grants reached SEK 2,367 million in 2025, 88% of them from national funders.
- The university appears on 33 of 60 QS subject lists (2025) and ranks 10th in the world for Dentistry.
Schools & faculties
- Artistic Faculty
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Science and Technology
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Sahlgrenska Academy
- School of Business, Economics and Law
The university does not publish a graduate employment rate on its English pages. In the 2023 International Student Barometer, 89% of 1,257 international respondents were happy with their life at the university and 84% would recommend it.
Student life
There is no enclosed campus: the university's departments are spread through central Gothenburg, from the 1907 main building at Vasaparken to the School of Business, Economics and Law on Viktoriagatan, and computing students study at Chalmers. New international students get an online Welcome Day, sessions on Swedish study culture and a Welcome Fair at Studenternas Hus where student unions, associations and sports clubs recruit. Housing is the biggest challenge: the city is popular, and the university advises starting the search as early as possible.
- The main building at Vasaparken, guarded by two bronze lions, is a listed landmark used for ceremonies and public events.
- A Welcome Fair at Studenternas Hus introduces new students to student unions, associations and sports clubs.
- Goin', a community app for admitted students, helps you find classmates and housing groups before arrival.
- Business and Economics students can spend their fifth semester at a partner university abroad.
Housing. Academic Housing offers a limited number of rooms to fee-paying and exchange students, and all students can queue for SGS student housing, where the wait can be a year or more.
Location
Gothenburg is Sweden's second-largest city, a port on the west coast with an extensive tram, bus and ferry network (a student monthly pass costs SEK 645). The university estimates a student budget of SEK 10,525-17,525 a month, with rent the largest item. Students with a residence permit may work up to 15 hours a week during semesters from June 2026, and without limits in summer.
Nearest airport: Göteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT)
Notable alumni
- JE Jan EliassonDeputy Secretary-General of the United Nations 2012-2016; master's in economics from the School of Business, Economics and Law
- CM Cecilia MalmströmEuropean Commissioner for Trade 2014-2019; PhD in political science
- PB Percy BarnevikCEO and chairman of ABB; educated at the School of Business, Economics and Law
- NB Nick BostromPhilosopher of existential risk and author of Superintelligence; first degree from Gothenburg
- JG José GonzálezSinger-songwriter; master's in molecular biology
- JJ Jonas JonassonAuthor of The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared; studied Swedish and Spanish
- NN Njuguna Ndung'uGovernor of the Central Bank of Kenya and Kenyan finance minister; PhD in economics
- MB Malin ByströmOperatic soprano; studied at the Academy of Music and Drama
Frequently asked questions
Is the University of Gothenburg free for international students?
It is free for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens. Other students pay tuition: for autumn 2027 entry, SEK 291,000 for a three-year business or international relations degree and SEK 441,000 for the computing programmes, plus a SEK 900 application fee.
When is the application deadline for autumn 2027?
15 January 2027 on universityadmissions.se for the English-taught bachelor's programmes (first round), with documents and fees due 1 February 2027. The national second round, including Swedish-taught programmes, closes on 15 April 2027.
Does the University of Gothenburg offer bachelor's degrees in English?
Yes, eleven: Business and Economics, International Relations, Computer Science and AI, Software Engineering and Management, and seven fine arts, crafts and music programmes (opera, three music programmes, crafts, furniture design and metal art). Most other bachelor's programmes, including medicine, are taught in Swedish.
How does the University of Gothenburg select bachelor's students?
Most programmes allocate 66% of places by upper secondary grade average and 34% by SweSAT score; there are no essays or interviews. Arts and music programmes select through work samples, interviews or admission tests.
What English score do I need for the University of Gothenburg?
The level of Swedish English 6, for example IELTS Academic 6.5 with no section below 5.5, or TOEFL iBT 90 with 20 in writing (4.5 on the new scale for tests from 21 January 2026).
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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