Address: Universitetsområdet, Porsön, 971 87 Luleå, Sweden
Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, Space Science, Wood Technology
Luleå University of Technology (LTU), established in 1971, is Scandinavia’s northernmost university of technology. It is a leading research and educational institution in technology and natural sciences, with a strong focus on applied research in close cooperation with industry and society. The university has campuses in Luleå, Piteå, Skellefteå, and Kiruna.
Luleå University of Technology, LTU, was established in 1971 and is the northernmost technical university in Sweden. It has about 19,000 students, counting those in distance programmes, and around 1,600 staff. Roughly one student in ten comes from abroad. The main campus is at Porsön, a short distance from the town of Luleå, in the province of Norrbotten, near the Arctic Circle, and there are further campuses in Kiruna, Skellefteå and Piteå.
LTU was created to serve the industries of northern Sweden, which include iron ore mining, steel, hydropower, forestry and wood products. Mining and rock engineering, metallurgy, civil engineering, wood technology, industrial design and computer science are among its main fields. Many students study at a distance, which reflects the large distances in the north, and the university has a long experience in online education.
The Kiruna campus teaches space technology and works with the Swedish Institute of Space Physics and the Esrange Space Center, where rockets and balloons are launched for research. Nearby mines in Kiruna and Malmberget are used as living laboratories for rock mechanics and automation. Luleå also has a strong data centre industry, since the cold climate and cheap hydropower attract large server farms, and the university works on cloud and mobile computing.
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.
Winters are long, dark and very cold, and summers have midnight sun. Housing is cheaper than in the south, and the northern lights are visible on clear nights.
Domains taught:
Aerospace, Astroscience, Civil Engineering, Ecology and Sustainability, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Geotechnics, Manufacturing, Materials, Mechanical Engineering, Process Control, Robotics, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
LTU has close collaborations with a wide range of companies and organizations, particularly in the mining, space, and forestry sectors. The university is a member of the Arctic University of Sweden consortium and has a strong network of international partners.
Research:
LTU’s research is focused on creating sustainable solutions for a changing world. Key research areas include natural resources, sustainable energy, and space technology. The university is home to several world-class research facilities, including the Centre for Advanced Mining and Metallurgy (CAMM).
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
1600
Current students***:
19000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
30000
Pros
A unique profile with a focus on Arctic research and close ties to the mining and space industries. A strong sense of community and a beautiful natural environment.
Cons
The university’s remote location in northern Sweden can be a disadvantage for some students. The winters are long and cold, which may not be suitable for everyone.
Best For
Students who are interested in a specialized technical education with a focus on Arctic research, natural resources, and space technology.
Royal Institute of Technology follows much the same lines as this university, with aerospace, civil engineering and robotics as common ground, and it covers transportations and nanotechnologies as well, and is slightly smaller, at about 13,955 students against roughly 19,000 here.
Chalmers University of Technology is the closest domestic counterpart for civil engineering, robotics and manufacturing; it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers transportations and nanotechnologies as well.
On content, Umeå University and this university are close, as both teach ecology and sustainability; it is larger, enrolling about 34,000 students against roughly 19,000 here, and is also a public institution.
For students who like the civil engineering, robotics and mechanical engineering focus of this institution but want another option nearby, Lund University fits well: it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers nanotechnologies and industrial design as well.
Another national school that puts process control, robotics and ecology and sustainability at the centre is Mid Sweden University, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Siberian Federal University in Russia shares the geotechnics, ecology and sustainability and electrical and electronics orientation of this university, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Irkutsk National Research Technical University brings a Russia setting to the same core fields, aerospace, geotechnics and ecology and sustainability, and it has almost the same size, at about 18,000 students, and is also a public institution.
For aerospace, robotics and manufacturing outside the home country, University of Limerick in Ireland is a natural reference; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Technical University of Denmark brings a Denmark setting to the same core fields, civil engineering, ecology and sustainability and mechanical engineering, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers bioengineering and AI and machine learning as well.
The closest overseas parallel on geotechnics, mechanical engineering and electrical and electronics is Donetsk National Technical University, located in Ukraine; it covers automation as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 10,000 students against roughly 19,000 here.
*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 Luleå University of Technology?
The main campus is at Porsön, near Luleå, Sweden, in the province of Norrbotten.
When was it established?
In 1971.
How large is it?
About 19,000 students, counting those in distance programmes, and around 1,600 staff.
Where are its other campuses?
In Kiruna, Skellefteå and Piteå.
What is it known for?
Mining and rock engineering, metallurgy, civil engineering, wood technology, space technology and computer science.
What is taught in Kiruna?
Space technology, in cooperation with the Swedish Institute of Space Physics and the Esrange Space Center.
Does it offer distance programmes?
Yes, and many students study at a distance.
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.
What is the climate like?
Winters are long, dark and very cold, and summers have midnight sun.
Environmental Impact, Environmental Technologies, Metallurgy, Renewable Energy, Research and Development, Space, Sustainable 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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