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Higher education in Sweden

Higher education in Sweden is provided by a wide range of institutions. They are founded on two sets of activities:
  • Teaching
  • Research
The activities also include an obligation to interact with the surrounding society, as well as ensuring that benefit is derived from their research findings.

An international perspective


Sweden ranks highly according to several of the indicators used in the OECD:
  • Funding: Sweden devotes 1.7% of GDP to higher education and research, half of which goes towards research and third cycle (doctoral) programmes.
  • Expansion: Between 1995 and 2005, the number of students in higher education rose by about 50%. In 2010, there were 433,000 students enrolled in first (undergraduate) and second (Master's) cycle programmes.
  • Well-educated population: 30% of the Swedish population between 30 and 64 years has taken a minimum of 120 higher education credits, equivalent to two years of full-time study.
  • Disciplines: Sweden awards a high proportion of qualifications in medicine and health sciences.
  • Third cycle (doctoral) studies: Sweden awards a high number of doctorates: 2.7% in relation to the size of a typical age cohort.

Link to the Swedish Universities and University Colleges: Short Version of Annual Report 2010 »

Last updated: 2011-09-09
Contact: Lennart Ståhle, Email: forename.surname@hsv.se
Swedish National Agency for Higher Education  Visting address: Luntmakargatan 13  Box 7851, 103 99 Stockholm
Phone: 08-563 085 00  Fax: 08-563 085 50  Email: hsv@hsv.se