Address: Linköpings universitet, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
Engineering, Computer Science, Education
Linköping University (LiU), founded in 1975, is a research-based university with a strong tradition of interdisciplinary studies and a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship. The university has four campuses in three cities: Linköping, Norrköping, and Stockholm. LiU is known for its problem-based learning approach and close collaboration with industry.
Linköping University, LiU, was created in 1975 from a branch of Stockholm University and an engineering and medical school, and it has grown into a broad university with about 32,000 students and 4,000 staff. Around one student in ten comes from abroad. The main campus, Valla, lies on the western edge of Linköping, in the south-east of Sweden, beside a forest, with a second campus in Norrköping and a medical site beside the university hospital.
LiU is known for its teaching methods. Medicine and several other programmes use problem-based learning, in which students work in small groups on realistic cases, and the university has developed close links with companies from the start. It has about eight faculties and schools covering engineering, science, arts, health, education, business and social sciences. Computer science, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, medicine, and applied physics are the best-known areas.
The university is a centre for aeronautics, because Saab builds the Gripen fighter in Linköping, and it works with the company on aircraft engineering, simulation and systems design. Research in materials science, including thin films and semiconductors, has a global profile, particularly for silicon carbide and graphene on silicon carbide. The Norrköping campus hosts the Visualization Center C and groups in media technology. LiU is a main partner in the national WASP programme for artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.
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. Applications for bachelor’s and master’s programmes go through the national portal, and deadlines are in the winter for the autumn intake. Bachelor’s programmes are mostly in Swedish, while most master’s programmes are in English.
Linköping is a mid-sized city, about two hours by train from Stockholm. Housing is cheaper than in the capital but still limited, and bicycles are the main way to reach the campus.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Industrial Design, Logistics, Manufacturing, Materials, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Software Engineering, Telecommunications
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
LiU has a strong network of partners in both the public and private sectors, including major companies like Saab, Ericsson, and Siemens. The university is a member of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU) and has numerous international collaborations.
Research:
LiU’s research is characterized by its interdisciplinary nature and its focus on solving societal challenges. Key research areas include materials science, ICT, and medical technology. The university has several internationally recognized research centers, such as the Wallenberg-affiliated center for molecular medicine (WCMM).
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
4000
Current students***:
32000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
50000
Pros
A modern and innovative university with a focus on interdisciplinary studies and problem-based learning. Strong ties to industry and a good track record in entrepreneurship.
Cons
The university is relatively young and may not have the same level of international recognition as some of the older Swedish universities. The multi-campus structure can be a disadvantage for some students.
Best For
Students who are looking for an innovative and interdisciplinary education with a strong focus on problem-based learning and entrepreneurship.
Chalmers University of Technology offers a comparable education in industrial design, telecommunications and robotics: it is private, whereas this university is public, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Halmstad University shares the core fields of this university, namely industrial design, telecommunications and robotics; it is smaller, enrolling about 11,000 students against roughly 32,000 here, and is also a public institution.
In terms of fields, Lund University is the nearest neighbour, with industrial design, telecommunications and robotics again at the core; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Royal Institute of Technology works in much the same fields, chiefly industrial design, telecommunications and robotics, and it is smaller, enrolling about 13,955 students against roughly 32,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Uppsala University works in much the same fields, chiefly electrical and electronics, materials and data analytics, and it is larger, enrolling about 50,000 students against roughly 32,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Aalborg University in Denmark is the nearest foreign match on telecommunications, robotics and AI and machine learning; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Beyond national borders, University of Helsinki stands out as a comparable school for data analytics and AI and machine learning; it has almost the same size, at about 31,000 students, and is also a public institution.
On content, Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium and this institution are close, as both teach computer vision, telecommunications and robotics; it covers bioinformatics and nanotechnologies as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 20,000 students against roughly 32,000 here.
Abroad, Dublin City University (Ireland) covers telecommunications, data analytics and AI and machine learning in a comparable way, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers bioengineering and chemistry as well.
Aarhus University brings a Denmark setting to the same core fields, education, several and internationally, and it is slightly larger, at about 38,000 students against roughly 32,000 here, and is also a public institution.
*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 Linköping University?
The main campus, Valla, is in Linköping, Sweden. A second campus is in Norrköping.
When was it created?
In 1975.
How large is it?
About 32,000 students and 4,000 staff.
What teaching method is it known for?
Problem-based learning, in which students work in small groups on realistic cases.
Saab, which builds the Gripen fighter in Linköping.
What is WASP?
A national programme for artificial intelligence and autonomous systems in which LiU is a main partner.
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 Linköping from Stockholm?
About two hours by train.
Engineering, Innovation, Materials Science, Problem Solving Techniques, 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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