Lund University, founded in 1666, is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Northern Europe. It is a comprehensive public research university with a strong international profile and a wide range of subjects, from humanities and social sciences to engineering and medicine. The university is located in the charming city of Lund, in southern Sweden.
Lund University is one of the oldest and most respected universities in Scandinavia. It was founded in 1666, after the province of Skåne had passed from Denmark to Sweden, and its creation was part of the effort to integrate the region. It has about 44,000 students and 7,500 staff, and roughly one student in five comes from abroad. The main building stands on Paradisgatan, in the old town of Lund, facing a park and the cathedral, and the university is the centre of the small city’s life.
The university is organised in eight faculties: engineering, humanities and theology, law, medicine, science, social sciences, fine arts, music and theatre, and economics and management. The Faculty of Engineering, LTH, is one of the major engineering schools in the country. Manne Siegbahn, who received the 1924 Nobel Prize in Physics for X-ray spectroscopy, was a professor at Lund, and the university has been linked to a series of researchers in physics, chemistry and medicine.
Lund is home to two major research facilities. MAX IV, a synchrotron light source that opened in 2016, is used by scientists from around the world to study materials and biological structures. The European Spallation Source, ESS, is a neutron facility under construction and commissioning in the north-east of the city. Both are located in the Science Village area, near the Ideon science park, where a large number of technology and life-science companies are based.
Student life is organised around the student nations, associations that offer social events, food and housing, and around the carnival held every four years. Tuition is free for citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, while students from other countries pay tuition fees that vary by programme. Check the current tariff and the scholarships available. Bachelor’s programmes are mostly in Swedish, while most master’s programmes are in English.
Lund is a compact town, and most students move by bicycle. Housing is scarce, so applying early for accommodation is advised. Malmö and Copenhagen are reachable by train in about twenty and fifty minutes.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Bioengineering, Civil Engineering, Data Analytics, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Industrial Design, Life Sciences, Materials, Mechanical Engineering, Nanotechnologies, Physics, Robotics, Software Engineering, Telecommunications
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Lund University has a vast network of international partners and is a member of several prestigious university networks, including the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and Universitas 21. The university has strong ties with industry and the public sector, with many collaborative research projects and a focus on innovation.
Research:
Lund University is a research-intensive university with a broad range of research activities. Key research areas include medical sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences. The university is home to two of Europe’s largest research facilities, MAX IV Laboratory and the European Spallation Source (ESS).
Famous Alumnis:
Carl Linnaeus, Ingvar Kamprad, Margot Wallström
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
7500
Current students***:
44000
Foreign students***:
20%
Cumulative former students***:
100000
Pros
A rich history and a strong international reputation, a wide range of study programs, and a vibrant student life in a picturesque city.
Cons
The university’s large size can make it feel impersonal for some students. The housing situation in Lund can be challenging, especially for international students.
Best For
Students seeking a comprehensive and research-intensive education in a historic and vibrant university city.
Think of Uppsala University when bioengineering, physics and electrical and electronics is the priority: it covers statistics and ecology and sustainability as well, and is slightly larger, at about 50,000 students against roughly 44,000 here.
On content, Royal Institute of Technology and this institution are close, as both teach nanotechnologies, industrial design and civil engineering; it covers aerospace and transportations as well, and is far smaller, with about 13,955 students against roughly 44,000 here.
On content, Linköping University and this institution are close, as both teach industrial design, telecommunications and robotics; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
On content, Umeå University and this institution are close, as both teach physics, life sciences and data analytics; it is slightly smaller, at about 34,000 students against roughly 44,000 here, and is also a public institution.
University of Gothenburg is the closest domestic counterpart for physics, life sciences and data analytics; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Beyond national borders, University of Copenhagen stands out as a comparable school for nanotechnologies, physics and life sciences; it is slightly smaller, at about 37,500 students against roughly 44,000 here, and is also a public institution.
University of Belgrade brings a Serbia setting to the same core fields, civil engineering, physics and mechanical engineering, and it is larger, enrolling about 94,425 students against roughly 44,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Seen from abroad, Soochow University (China) is a close relative on subject matter, since nanotechnologies, physics and materials are central to both, and it also offers mba programmes and covers chemistry and mathematics as well.
Abroad, Charles University (the Czech Republic) covers physics, life sciences and data analytics in a comparable way, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
King Saud University offers an international parallel to this university, with civil engineering, physics and life sciences as common ground; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is Lund University?
The main building is at Paradisgatan 2 in Lund, Sweden, in the province of Skåne.
When was it founded?
In 1666, after Skåne had passed from Denmark to Sweden.
How large is it?
About 44,000 students and 7,500 staff.
What are LTH and the faculties?
LTH is the Faculty of Engineering, one of eight faculties that also include humanities, law, medicine, science, social sciences, fine arts and economics.
Which Nobel laureate worked there?
Manne Siegbahn, who received the 1924 Nobel Prize in Physics.
What are MAX IV and ESS?
MAX IV is a synchrotron light source that opened in 2016. The European Spallation Source is a neutron facility in the north-east of the city.
What are student nations?
Associations that offer social events, food and housing to students.
Is there tuition?
Tuition is free for citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland. Other students pay fees that vary by programme. Check the current tariff and scholarships.
In which language are courses taught?
Bachelor's programmes mostly in Swedish, and most master's programmes in English.
How far is Lund from Copenhagen?
About fifty minutes by train.
Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Healthcare, Innovation, Medical, Product Development, Research and Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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