Umeå University is a public research university in Umeå with 43,736 enrolled students and around 4,600 staff.[1] It was inaugurated on 17 September 1965 and describes itself as Sweden’s fifth university.[1] It is ranked 438th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, down from 401st the year before.[2]
Students from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland generally pay application and tuition fees. Degree programmes and full-time studies cost SEK 96,600 to SEK 395,700 per year, depending on the field.[3] The application fee is SEK 900 for each semester you apply for.[4] EU/EEA and Swiss citizens are generally exempt from both.[3]
Key facts
| Official name | Umeå universitet (Umeå University) |
| Location | Umeå, Sweden (postal address 901 87 Umeå); regional campuses in Skellefteå and Örnsköldsvik[5] |
| Type | Public research university[6] |
| Founded | Inaugurated on 17 September 1965; described as Sweden’s fifth university[1] |
| Students | 43,736 enrolled, including postgraduate students[1] |
| Staff | Around 4,600 teachers, researchers and technical and administrative staff[1] |
| Nationalities | 60 nationalities represented; more than 300,000 alumni[1] |
| Faculties | Four: arts and humanities, medicine, social sciences, and science and technology[5] |
| Study offer | 150 study programmes and 1,800 courses, of which more than 40 programmes and 450 courses are taught entirely in English[5] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 438th (previous edition: 401st)[2] |
| Tuition, non-EU/EEA/Swiss students | SEK 96,600 to SEK 395,700 per year, depending on the field (academic year not stated)[3] |
| Application fee, non-EU/EEA/Swiss students | SEK 900 per semester applied for[4] |
| Official website | umu.se |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About Umeå University
Umeå University was inaugurated on 17 September 1965, with about 2,000 students in its first year.[1] Today it has four faculties: arts and humanities, medicine, social sciences, and science and technology.[5] The main campus, Campus Umeå, hosts most research and teaching; the Umeå Arts Campus houses the university’s art colleges and the Bildmuseet art museum, and there are regional campuses in Skellefteå and Örnsköldsvik.[5]
The university reports more than 43,700 students, around 4,600 staff and more than 2,000 researchers.[5] The facts page gives 60 nationalities and more than 300,000 alumni, and says Umeå ranked first globally in three of five main categories (living, support and overall satisfaction) in an international student satisfaction survey. The page does not name the survey.[1]
How is Umeå University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, Umeå University is 438th in the world, down from 401st in the previous edition.[2] Wikipedia’s infobox lists 351–400 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2025), 501–600 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU, 2024) and 411 in the U.S. News Best Global Universities (2025–26).[6] These Wikipedia figures are not the university’s own.
Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Umeå University?
The university’s own pages give two different counts. One page lists 150 study programmes and 1,800 courses, including more than 40 programmes and 450 courses taught entirely in English.[5] The education overview speaks of “45+ degree programmes and 500 courses”.[7] The pages do not explain the difference; it probably reflects the English-taught offer, but we have not confirmed this.
For international students the key offer is master’s study: Umeå describes a wide range of one-year and two-year master’s programmes taught entirely in English.[8] Fees and entry requirements are listed on each programme page. Use the university’s programme search to filter by subject.
How much does Umeå University cost for international students?
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens generally pay application and tuition fees, with some exceptions. Degree programmes and full-time studies cost SEK 96,600 to SEK 395,700 per year, depending on the field of study. Umeå’s fee page gives no per-programme examples and names no academic year; your exact cost is on the programme page and in your Notification of Selection Results.[3]
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition, degree programmes, full time | SEK 96,600–395,700 per year |
| Umeå Institute of Design, bachelor’s or master’s | SEK 321,300 per study year |
| Application fee (non-EU/EEA/Swiss) | SEK 900 per semester applied for |
The Umeå Institute of Design page, which sits on umu.se, lists SEK 321,300 per study year for both bachelor’s and master’s programmes (SEK 642,600 for a two-year master’s, SEK 963,900 for a three-year bachelor’s).[9] Fees are invoiced in SEK and paid in instalments based on 30 credits per semester; you pay the full instalment even if you plan to study fewer credits.[3]
Who does not pay?
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens are generally not required to pay, and exchange students under an exchange agreement are exempt.[3] Nationally, Swedish citizens, holders of a permanent residence permit and holders of a temporary permit granted for reasons other than studies are also exempt, as are applicants to doctoral studies; fees apply only to bachelor’s and master’s level.[10] A temporary residence permit for studies does not exempt you.[10]
Scholarships
- Umeå University Scholarship for International Students: a full or partial tuition-fee waiver for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who applied in the first international admissions round to a full English-taught bachelor’s or master’s programme with Umeå as first choice.[11]
- Design by Umeå Scholarships: a full or partial waiver for master’s programmes in design, funded by a donation from Umeå municipality.[11]
- Swedish Institute scholarships: the SI Scholarship for Global Professionals and the SI Scholarship – Pioneering Women in STEM cover full tuition, SEK 12,000 a month and a one-time SEK 15,000 travel grant; the Swedish Institute handles selection.[11]
Tuition is only part of the bill. For rent and living costs, see our Study in Sweden guide.
How do you apply to Umeå University?
Applications for master’s programmes run through the national application service. You create an account, search for programmes and rank your choices, then document your previous studies after submitting the electronic application.[12] Non-EU/EEA/Swiss applicants pay the application fee of SEK 900; it is charged once per semester you apply for, whatever the number of programmes, and it cannot be refunded.[4] Umeå’s fee page refers to the University Admissions website for the deadline and for exemption documents.[3]
If you are exempt from fees, you must upload documents that prove it and contact the university’s tuition-fee office.[3] After admission, an invoice is issued within 10 working days of your Notification of Selection Results, and late payments are not accepted: students who miss the payment deadline lose their place.[3]
We give no application deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme. The national master’s guide is dated 2021, so confirm current steps on the programme page.[12]
Which English level do you need?
The national admissions service states that bachelor’s programmes require English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. Most master’s programmes require the same level; a few require English 5 or English 7.[13] Check the programme page for the exact level.
With an IELTS Academic test, English 6 means an overall score of 6.5 with no section below 5.5. With the TOEFL iBT, results from 21 January 2026 onward need a total of 4.5 on the 1–6 scale with no section below 4; earlier results need a total of 90 with at least 20 in the written test. IELTS General Training is not accepted.[13] Studies in some countries, a previous degree with English as the main subject or 60 credits taught in English in certain countries can also meet the requirement.[13]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are tuition fees at Umeå University for non-EU students?
Is there an application fee at Umeå University?
Yes, for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: SEK 900 per semester you apply for, whatever the number of programmes. It cannot be refunded.[4]
Who does not pay tuition fees at Umeå University?
Are there scholarships for international students at Umeå University?
Yes: the Umeå University Scholarship for International Students (full or partial tuition waiver), the Design by Umeå Scholarships and Swedish Institute scholarships.[11]
What English level do I need for Umeå University?
Generally English 6, for example IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no section below 5.5.[13] Some master’s programmes require a different level, so check the programme page.
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
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
- University of Gothenburg
- Uppsala University
Sources
[1] Umeå University: Facts and figures (page updated 9 Mar 2026)
[2] University of Gothenburg: Results for Gothenburg University in the QS World University Rankings 2027 (memo with the ten-year table for Swedish universities) (internal memo of 18 Jun 2026; the table labels editions by publication year, so its 2026 column is the 2027 edition; QS itself blocks automated access)
[3] Umeå University: Tuition fees for new students (page updated 27 Nov 2025)
[4] University Admissions: Pay your application fee (page updated 4 Sep 2026)
[5] Umeå University: About Umeå University (page updated 11 Sep 2026)
[6] Wikipedia: Umeå University (type and rankings; secondary source, not the university’s own figures)
[7] Umeå University: Education (page without a date; mentions the application round opening on 16 Oct 2026)
[8] Umeå University: Master’s programmes (page updated 11 Sep 2026)
[9] Umeå Institute of Design: Tuition fees & Scholarships (page updated 2 Nov 2026; study year not stated)
[10] University Admissions: Who is required to pay fees? (page updated 27 Oct 2026)
[11] Umeå University: Scholarships (page updated 2 Nov 2026)
[12] University Admissions: Apply to master’s programmes (page updated 15 Oct 2021)
[13] 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.