The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is a specialist public university with its main campus and head office at Ultuna in Uppsala and further main campuses in Alnarp and Umeå.[1][2] It was formed in 1977 by combining three colleges for veterinary medicine, forestry and agriculture, and has four faculties.[1][3]
Citizens of countries outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland pay tuition and an application fee of SEK 900.[4] The SLU master’s programmes we checked cost SEK 310,000 to SEK 444,000 in total for two years, depending on the programme.[5][6] SLU requires English at the level of the Swedish upper secondary course English 6 for the programmes we read.[7]
Key facts
| Official name | Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (SLU) |
| Location | Uppsala, Sweden (campus Ultuna, Almas allé 8, 756 51 Uppsala; postal address P.O. Box 7070, SE-750 07 Uppsala)[8] |
| Campuses | Three main campuses: Uppsala, Alnarp and Umeå[2] |
| Type | Public research university with an agricultural, forestry, veterinary and environmental profile[1] |
| Founded | 1977, by combining three existing colleges for veterinary medicine, forestry and agriculture; the oldest predecessor, the Veterinary Institution in Skara, dates from 1775[1] |
| Faculties | Four faculties with 30 departments and similar units[3] |
| Subject areas for study | Economy, rural areas and development; agriculture, biotechnology and food; animal science and veterinary medicine; landscape and urban areas; forest; nature and environment[2] |
| Students | 4,216 full-time students (2020 figure quoted by Wikipedia); SLU’s own pages we read give no student total[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Position could not be confirmed from a source we read[1] |
| Tuition, non-EU/EEA/Swiss students | Set per programme; SEK 310,000 to SEK 444,000 in total for the three two-year master’s programmes we checked[5] |
| Application fee, non-EU/EEA/Swiss students | SEK 900[4] |
| Language of teaching, master’s programmes checked | English; English 6 required for entry[7] |
| Official website | slu.se |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
SLU was formed in 1977 by combining three separate colleges for veterinary medicine, forestry and agriculture, together with smaller units. Its roots go back further: the Veterinary Institution in Skara was founded in 1775, the Institute of Forestry in Stockholm in 1828, and agricultural institutes in Ultuna (1848) and Alnarp (1862).[1]
The main campus and head office are at Ultuna in Uppsala; other main locations are Alnarp and Umeå.[1][2] Campus Ultuna is the base of the Faculty of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, and veterinary students train at the University Animal Hospital there.[9] SLU has four faculties with 30 departments and similar units.[3] Wikipedia names the faculties as Landscape Planning, Horticulture and Agricultural Sciences; Natural Resources and Agriculture Sciences; Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science; and Forest Sciences.[1]
How is SLU ranked?
We could not confirm a position in the QS World University Rankings 2027 from a source we read, because QS blocks automated access to its site. Wikipedia lists SLU in the 301–400 band of the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU, 2024) and in the 351–400 band of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2025).[1]
SLU’s strength shows in subject rankings. Wikipedia reports 3rd place in agriculture and forestry in the QS ranking by subject of 2023 (an older edition), and in ARWU subject rankings of 2023 it lists 6th in ecology and 10th in agricultural sciences.[1] These are Wikipedia’s figures, not SLU’s own. Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at SLU?
SLU offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral education in six subject areas:[2]
- Economy, rural areas and development
- Agriculture, biotechnology and food
- Animal science and veterinary medicine
- Landscape and urban areas
- Forest
- Nature and environment
The three master’s programmes whose fees we checked are two-year, 120-credit programmes taught in English: Sustainable Food Systems, Soil, Water and Environment, and Landscape Architecture for Sustainable Urbanisation.[5][7][6] SLU’s master’s landing page names no programmes, so use the programme search on slu.se for the full list.
How much does SLU cost for international students?
Citizens of countries outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland pay tuition. The general fee page lists no tuition amounts; fees are set per programme and shown on each programme page. The fee assumes full-time study of 30 credits per semester and covers only the programme you were admitted to, not housing, literature or living costs.[4]
| Master’s programme (2 years, 120 credits) | First semester | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainable Food Systems | SEK 77,500 | SEK 310,000 |
| Soil, Water and Environment | SEK 91,000 | SEK 364,000 |
| Landscape Architecture for Sustainable Urbanisation | SEK 111,000 | SEK 444,000 |
The amounts are those shown on the programme pages for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.[5][7][6] The pages for Soil, Water and Environment and for Landscape Architecture show the autumn 2027 intake; the Sustainable Food Systems page names no year, and none of the pages states an academic year for the fee. Dividing the totals by two gives SEK 155,000, SEK 182,000 and SEK 222,000 per year (our calculation). The fee page says the amount is the same every semester.[4]
Application fee and exemptions
The application fee is SEK 900 and must reach University Admissions by the application deadline; it is waived if you are already registered on a course or programme and studying in Sweden.[4] Exempt from tuition are EU/EEA and Swiss citizens, holders of a Swedish residence permit granted for reasons other than studies, and exchange and doctoral students (unless they take courses outside their exchange or doctoral programme).[4]
Scholarships
- SLU scholarships: cover tuition fees only, for fee-paying students admitted to the bachelor’s programme in Forest and Landscape or to a master’s programme, with a short list of excluded programmes. Selection is based on the motivation letter and previous grades; about 1 % of applicants receive one.[10]
- Swedish Institute scholarships: for students from countries outside the EU/EEA; they cover tuition and living expenses of up to SEK 12,000 a month at master’s level, plus a travel grant. You must first apply for a master’s programme through universityadmissions.se.[10]
- Erasmus Mundus: some specialisations within SLU master’s programmes (EMABG and emPLANT+) may offer scholarships.[10]
For rent and living costs, see our Study in Sweden guide.
How do you apply to SLU?
All applications go through universityadmissions.se, Sweden’s central application system; one application can cover programmes at several universities.[11] The steps are: find a programme on slu.se, check its entry requirements, apply on universityadmissions.se and wait for the selection results. Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens also pay tuition and apply for a residence permit.[11]
You upload the online application form, proof of general entry requirements, proof of English proficiency, proof of any programme-specific requirements, supporting documents and proof of citizenship.[11] For scholarships you apply separately; the SLU scholarship page names a dedicated contact address for scholarship applications.[10]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year. SLU’s master’s page shows the application period for the next autumn intake; check it before you start.[11]
Which English level do you need?
The three master’s programme pages we read all require knowledge equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. Applicants with a first-cycle qualification of 180 credits from a Swedish university, or with 120 credits completed at SLU, are considered to meet it.[5][7][6]
The national admissions service gives the test equivalents: IELTS Academic with an overall score of 6.5 and no section below 5.5; TOEFL iBT with a total of 4.5 on the 1–6 scale and no section below 4 for results from 21 January 2026, and a total of 90 with at least 20 in the written test for earlier results.[12] SLU’s own application page asks for proof of English proficiency but does not list tests, so check your programme page.[11]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a master’s programme at SLU cost for non-EU students?
Is there an application fee for SLU?
Yes, SEK 900 for citizens of countries outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland. It is waived if you already study in Sweden.[4]
Does SLU offer scholarships?
Yes. SLU scholarships cover tuition fees only; Swedish Institute scholarships also cover living costs of up to SEK 12,000 a month at master’s level.[10]
Where is SLU located?
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
- Luleå University of Technology
- Lund University
- Mälardalen University
- Malmö University
- Örebro University
- Stockholm School of Economics (SSE)
- Stockholm University
- Umeå University
- University of Gothenburg
- Uppsala University
Sources
[1] Wikipedia: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (history, status, rankings and student figures; secondary source)
[2] SLU: Study at SLU (page without a date; subject areas and main campuses)
[3] SLU: Faculties and departments (page without a date)
[4] SLU: Tuition fees (page reviewed 8 Jul 2026)
[5] SLU: Master’s Programme Sustainable Food Systems (page without a date; fee shown without an academic year)
[6] SLU: Landscape Architecture for Sustainable Urbanisation, Master’s Programme (page without a date; autumn 2027 intake)
[7] SLU: Soil, Water and Environment, Master’s Programme (page without a date; autumn 2027 intake)
[8] SLU: Contact SLU (page reviewed 19 Aug 2026)
[9] SLU: Campus Ultuna (Uppsala) (page reviewed 17 Aug 2026)
[10] SLU: Scholarships (page reviewed 1 Nov 2026)
[11] SLU: How to apply (page reviewed 17 Aug 2026)
[12] University Admissions: 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.