Karlstad University (KAU)

Sweden

Address: Universitetsgatan 2, 651 88 Karlstad, Sweden

Psychology, Business Administration, Computer Science

Karlstad University (KAU) is a state university in Karlstad, Sweden. It was founded in 1999 when the former Karlstad University College was granted university status. The university has a focus on a close relationship with students and a strong connection to the regional community.

Domains taught:

AI and Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Engineering, Materials, Mechanical Engineering, Project Management, Software Engineering, Telecommunications

Diplomas*:

Bachelor, Doctor, Master

Status:

Public

Partnerships:

Karlstad University has a well-developed collaboration with industry and the public sector, both regionally and nationally. It has partnerships with companies like IKEA and is involved in several international networks.

Research:

Karlstad University’s research is focused on creating societal benefits, with a particular emphasis on service research, regional development, and gender studies. The Service Research Center (CTF) at Karlstad University is one of the world’s leading research centers in its field.

Famous Alumnis:

N/A

International recognition**:

Number of staff***:

1200

Current students***:

16000

Foreign students***:

10%

Cumulative former students***:

30000

Pros

A friendly and welcoming atmosphere, with a close relationship between students and teachers. Strong ties to the regional community and a focus on applied research.

Cons

The university has a relatively low international ranking and may not have the same level of prestige as some of the older Swedish universities.

Best For

Students who prefer a smaller university with a friendly atmosphere and a focus on applied research with strong regional connections.

Most Similar Schools Locally

Think of Blekinge Institute of Technology when project management, computer vision and telecommunications is the priority: it covers industrial design as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 7,000 students against roughly 16,000 here.
Think of Linköping University when computer vision, telecommunications and mechanical engineering is the priority: it is larger, enrolling about 32,000 students against roughly 16,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Both schools build their programmes around ecology and sustainability, data analytics and AI and machine learning, and Örebro University is the one to compare first within the country, since it has almost the same size, at about 17,000 students, and is also a public institution.
Mid Sweden University takes a similar route through telecommunications, ecology and sustainability and mechanical engineering, and it is slightly larger, at about 20,000 students against roughly 16,000 here, and is also a public institution.
The comparison with Dalarna University is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on ecology and sustainability, mechanical engineering and materials, and it covers sound engineering and structural engineering as well, and has almost the same size, at about 16,000 students.

Most Similar Schools Abroad

Students considering a move abroad can look at Aalborg University in Denmark, where project management, telecommunications and ecology and sustainability also form the core, and it covers robotics as well, and is slightly larger, at about 20,000 students against roughly 16,000 here.
A foreign alternative with a similar emphasis on telecommunications, data analytics and AI and machine learning is Dublin City University in Ireland, and it has almost the same size, at about 17,500 students, and is also a public institution.
For telecommunications, ecology and sustainability and materials outside the home country, University of Oulu in Finland is a natural reference; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers chemistry and physics as well.
University of Macau offers an international parallel to this university, with telecommunications, materials and data analytics as common ground; it covers finance and electrical and electronics as well, and has almost the same size, at about 15,000 students.
Looking internationally, Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium is where computer vision, telecommunications and mechanical engineering get a comparable treatment; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.

*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.

Innovation, Research and Development, User experience (UX), User-Centered Design

> search our World Universities Directory here <

*: 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.

Innovation.world is not affiliated with this school/university.
We recommend to contact them directly on their website for any special request.

To complete or correct any information here or share your opinion, please comment below or > send us a direct message <.