Luleå University of Technology (LTU) is a public university in Norrbotten, northern Sweden, with its main campus in Luleå and further campuses in Kiruna, Piteå and Skellefteå.[1] In 2025 it had 21,570 students, about 1,840 employees and a turnover of SEK 2,317 million.[2]
Students from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland pay tuition per semester, depending on the programme: for example SEK 40,000 for International Business, Information Security and Data Science, SEK 70,000 for Cyber Security and most engineering master’s programmes, and SEK 119,000 for Music Performance.[3] We could not confirm a QS World University Rankings 2027 position.
Key facts
| Official name | Luleå tekniska universitet (LTU) |
| Location | Luleå, Norrbotten, Sweden (postcode 971 87); further campuses in Kiruna, Piteå and Skellefteå[1] |
| Type | Public research university[1] |
| Founded | 1971; renamed Luleå University of Technology on 1 January 1997[4] |
| Students (2025) | 21,570 in total; 8,321 full-year students[2] |
| Employees (2025) | About 1,840; 1,537 full-time equivalents, including 155 professors[2] |
| Turnover (2025) | SEK 2,317 million, of which research and doctoral education SEK 1,311 million[2] |
| Research | 65 research subjects[2] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Not confirmed (no readable source named a position) |
| Tuition, non-EU/EEA/Swiss students | Per semester, by programme: SEK 40,000 to 119,000 (page updated 16 Sep 2026)[3] |
| Tuition payment | Once per semester; instalments and annual payments are not possible[3] |
| Refund fee | Fixed SEK 6,000 deducted from all refunds since 1 January 2026[3] |
| English requirement | English 6 / level 2 (example: Master Programme in Cyber Security)[5] |
| Official website | ltu.se |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About Luleå University of Technology
The university’s own history page says it has held university status since it was founded in 1971, and that the name Luleå University of Technology, in use from 1 January 1997, confirms this status.[4] Wikipedia tells it differently: it describes the 1971 start as Luleå University College and says the institution gained full university status in 1997.[1]
The main campus is in Porsön, Luleå. Kiruna is shared with Umeå University and focuses on space research; Piteå covers music and media; Skellefteå covers wood technology, computer graphics, game development, electrical power engineering, nursing and social work.[1] In 2025 LTU counted 155 professors and 614 teachers and researchers (full-time equivalents).[2]
How is Luleå University of Technology ranked?
We could not confirm a QS World University Rankings 2027 position (published 18 June 2026) for Luleå University of Technology. QS blocks automated access to its site, and none of the sources we read named an LTU position, so we give none. LTU’s facts page mentions no rankings.[2]
The Studyportals page “Sweden University Rankings 2027 | SP Meta Ranking” places LTU 13th among Swedish universities. This is a different ranking from QS.[6] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Luleå University of Technology?
The tuition page lists bachelor’s programmes in Mineral Resource Engineering, Computer Graphics for Game and Film and Computer Game Programming, and master’s programmes including International Business, Information Security, Data Science, Cyber Security, Applied AI, Maintenance Engineering, Spacecraft Design, Space Science & Technology, Wood Technology, Composite Materials and Music Performance.[3]
Example: the Master Programme in Cyber Security is a two-year, 120-credit programme taught entirely in English, offered on campus in Skellefteå (10 places) or as distance learning (20 places). Entry requires a degree of at least 180 credits in computer science or a related field, including at least 7.5 ECTS in programming, 5 ECTS in data communication and 5 ECTS in machine learning or AI.[5] For a country overview see the Study in Sweden guide.
How much does Luleå University of Technology cost?
Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland pay no application or tuition fees. Other students pay tuition; the amount depends on the programme and is shown on universityadmissions.se when the application period opens.[3] LTU’s fee page (updated 16 September 2026) lists these fees per semester; it does not state an academic year:[3]
| Programme | Fee per semester (SEK) |
|---|---|
| Master’s: International Business, Information Security, Data Science | 40,000 |
| Bachelor’s: Mineral Resource Engineering, Computer Graphics for Game and Film, Computer Game Programming | 70,000 |
| Master’s: Cyber Security, Applied AI, Maintenance Engineering, Spacecraft Design, Space Science & Technology, Wood Technology, Composite Materials, Minerals and Metallurgical Engineering, Exploration and Environmental Geosciences, Arctic Mineral Resources, Civil Engineering (Mining and Geotechnical) | 70,000 |
| Master’s: Music Performance | 119,000 |
Fees are paid once per semester; instalments and annual payments are not possible, and applicants who do not pay on time lose their place. A valid Swedish work permit at the start of studies exempts you from tuition, a permit from another EU country does not.[3]
Refunds and scholarships
Refunds for a started semester are generally not possible except in listed cases such as a refused residence permit. A fixed administrative fee of SEK 6,000 is deducted from all refunds, effective 1 January 2026, and bank charges up to SEK 1,000 are deducted as well.[3][7] The fee page says no tuition fee waivers are offered to first-year students; the Tuition Fee Waiver scholarship is for current master’s students and is assessed after the first academic year.[3] The Cyber Security programme page adds that LTU offers a limited number of scholarships for international master’s students and mentions the Swedish Institute’s scholarship for Global Professionals.[5] The application fee amount is not stated on the LTU pages we read.[3]
How do you apply to Luleå University of Technology?
Applications go through the national portal universityadmissions.se.[5] The portal’s first round is recommended for all international students; the second round only for EU/EEA students who need no residence permit.[8]
- Choose the programme, check the entry requirements on its page and apply through the portal; each intake has its own application code.[5]
- Non-EU/EEA/Swiss applicants must pay an application fee, and applications are not processed without it.[5]
- Pay the tuition fee once per semester via the invoice in Ladok; the deadline is on the invoice.[3]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year; the programme page shows the current application window.
Which language level do you need?
The Master Programme in Cyber Security requires proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary English 6 (level 2).[5] The national admissions service accepts, for English 6, IELTS Academic with overall 6.5 and no section below 5.5, TOEFL iBT with a total of 4.5 on the 1–6 scale (results from 21 January 2026) and no section below 4, or PTE Academic 62 with writing 61. A letter from your school or university is not enough on its own.[9]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Luleå University of Technology cost for non-EU students?
Per semester, by programme: SEK 40,000 (e.g. International Business), SEK 70,000 (e.g. Cyber Security, Mineral Resource Engineering) or SEK 119,000 (Music Performance).[3]
Is Luleå University of Technology free for EU students?
Yes. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens pay no application or tuition fees.[3]
Does LTU offer scholarships?
What English level is required at LTU?
How is Luleå University of Technology ranked?
We could not confirm a QS 2027 position. Studyportals’ Meta Ranking places it 13th among Swedish universities.[6]
More about studying in Sweden
- Sweden: best universities
- Study in Sweden: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Sweden
- Blekinge Institute of Technology
- Chalmers University of Technology
- Halmstad University
- Jönköping University
- Karlstad University
- Karolinska Institutet
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology
- Linköping University
- Linnaeus University
- Lund University
- Mälardalen University
- Malmö University
- Örebro University
- Stockholm School of Economics (SSE)
- Stockholm University
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
- Umeå University
- University of Gothenburg
- Uppsala University
Sources
[1] Wikipedia: Luleå University of Technology (campuses and history; secondary source, last edited 4 Oct 2026)
[2] Luleå University of Technology: Facts about the university (page updated 19 Feb 2026; figures from the 2025 annual report)
[3] Luleå University of Technology: Tuition and application fees (page updated 16 Sep 2026)
[4] Luleå University of Technology: Our history, 1990s (page updated 21 Jan 2024)
[5] Luleå University of Technology: Master Programme in Cyber Security (page updated 14 Oct 2026)
[6] Mastersportal (Studyportals): Sweden University Rankings 2027, SP Meta Ranking (page without a date; not a QS ranking)
[7] Luleå University of Technology: Fee-paying students (page updated 8 Oct 2026; guidelines of 1 Jan 2026)
[8] University Admissions in Sweden: Start page (page without a date)
[9] University Admissions in Sweden: English language requirements (page updated 13 Oct 2025)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.