Stockholm University facts for kids

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Stockholm University
Stockholms universitet

Type	Public university
Established	1878; 147 years ago (1878) (University status since 1960)
Rector	Hans Adolfsson
Academic staff	5,500 (2018)
Students	33,000 individuals, 26,273 (FTE) (2018)
Doctoral students	1,600 (2018)
Location	Stockholm , Sweden 59°21′55″N 18°03′30″E / 59.36528°N 18.05833°E / 59.36528; 18.05833
Campus	Urban
Colors	Stockholm university blue, gold, silver
Affiliations	EUA UNICA
Website

Stockholm University (often called SU) is a big public university in Stockholm, Sweden. It started as a college in 1878 and became a full university in 1960. With over 33,000 students, it is one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. Students can study many subjects, including law, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Like other public universities in Sweden, Stockholm University teaches students and does important research. This research helps society in many ways.

History of Stockholm University

The idea to create Stockholm University came from the Stockholm City Council. In 1865, they decided to set up a fund and a group to "establish a higher education institution in the capital." This group had nine respected citizens who wanted to help science and society grow.

In 1869, the Stockholm University College Association was formed. Its goal was to create a college in Stockholm and keep it going. The plan for Stockholm University College was approved in May 1877. The university officially opened in the autumn of 1878.

Early Years and Key Milestones

When it first opened in 1878, Stockholms högskola (Stockholm University College) offered science lectures. These lectures were open to everyone, a tradition that continues today with public lectures each year. A special moment in the university's early history was in 1889. Sofia Kovalevskaya became a professor in the mathematics department. She was the third female professor in all of Europe! In 1904, the college was allowed to give out official degrees.

Fredrik Blom's house at Experimentalfältet, now used for the central administration of Stockholm University

In 1960, the college became a full university. It was Sweden's fourth state university. The university used to be in central Stockholm. However, more and more students joined, and there wasn't enough space. So, in 1970, most of the university moved to a larger campus. This new main campus is in Frescati, just north of the city center.

How Stockholm University is Organized

Stockholm University is a government agency. This means it follows rules set by the Swedish government and parliament. The university can make many of its own decisions. For example, it decides how it is run, what courses it offers, and which students it accepts.

University Leadership and Departments

The University Board is the highest group that runs the university. It makes sure the university follows all laws and rules. The university also has a rector, who is like the head of the university. There are also two main area boards for different subjects: science, and humanities, law, and social sciences. These boards help plan what is taught and researched.

Below these boards are faculty boards for specific areas like law or natural sciences. Each faculty has a dean who leads it. Finally, there are many departments, each with a head who manages it. The University administration helps all these groups by handling things like money, IT, and student services.

International Connections

Stockholm University works with many universities around the world. It is an active member of the University of the Arctic (UArctic). UArctic is a group of over 200 universities and organizations. They work together to promote education and research in the Arctic region.

The university also takes part in UArctic's north2north program. This program lets students from member universities study in different parts of the North.

What You Can Study at Stockholm University

Stockholm University offers many different courses and study programs. There are 190 study programs in total. This includes 75 master's programs that are taught in English. Students can also choose from 1,700 different courses in human sciences and natural sciences.

You can take single courses that last a few weeks or a semester. Or, you can apply for a full study program. The university also has four Bachelor's programs taught in English. These include programs in Business, Ethics and Sustainability, Latin America Studies, International Business and Politics, and Earth Science (Distance Learning).

Study Abroad Opportunities

If you are studying for a bachelor's degree, you can also go on an exchange program in your third year. Stockholm University has agreements with more than 100 universities worldwide. This means you could study in another country for a while!

Research at the University

Researchers at Stockholm University do a lot of important work. They help with government studies and share their knowledge in the media. They also advise on new laws and are part of groups that choose Nobel Prize winners.

Special Research Stations

Stockholm University has several special places where scientists do research.

Askö Laboratory

The Askö Laboratory is a marine research center. Scientists here study ocean ecosystems, how living things interact, and how humans affect the sea. It was built in 1961 and is now a well-known place for marine research.

Tarfala Research Station

The Tarfala research station is high up in the mountains, about 1135 meters above sea level. It is located on the east side of Kebnekaise, Sweden's highest mountain. At this station, scientists study glaciers, water, weather, and climate in the arctic environment.

Tovetorp Zoological Research Station

The Tovetorp Zoological Research Station is about 95 kilometers southwest of Stockholm. Here, scientists and students study ecology (how living things interact with their environment) and ethology (animal behavior). Many students visit Tovetorp each year for their studies.

Student Groups

Students at Stockholm University can join different student unions. Before 2008, there was only one main student union called the Stockholm University Student Union (SUS). Now, students from computer science, teacher training, law, and journalism have their own separate student unions. These unions help students and represent their interests.

University Rankings

University rankings
Global – Overall
ARWU World	101–150 (2024)
QS World	=147 (2026)
THE World	=191 (2025)
USNWR Global	=153 (2025)

Universities are often ranked to see how they compare globally. In 2020, the Academic Ranking of World Universities placed Stockholm University as the 69th best university worldwide.

The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings listed Stockholm University at position 134 in 2018. In the QS World University Rankings, Stockholm University was ranked 148th globally in 2021. It was especially strong in Environmental Sciences (23rd) and Sociology (37th).

In the U.S. News & World Report Rankings, Stockholm University was ranked 114th globally in 2021. It was also ranked 4th in Sweden and 43rd in Europe.

University Campus

The main part of Stockholm University is in an area called Frescati. This area is part of the world's first national urban park. The campus is known for its beautiful nature, interesting buildings, and modern art. One famous building is the Aula Magna, which is a large auditorium.

Campus Areas and History

Within Frescati, there are several smaller areas like Albano, the Bergius Botanical Garden, and Kräftriket. Many of these names come from the late 1700s. After King Gustav III visited Italy, some places near Brunnsviken lake were given Italian names. Stockholm University also has another campus in Kista, where the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences is located.

Getting to Stockholm University

There are many easy ways to reach Stockholm University. The main Frescati campus is close to the Universitetet metro station on the red line of the Stockholm Metro. The commuter train line Roslagsbanan also stops nearby at Universitetet railway station. Many local buses also go to the campus.

The Computer Science campus in Kista is also near the Kista underground station. It is also close to the Helenelund commuter train station. From there, it's just a short bus ride to the campus.

Famous People from Stockholm University

Many notable people have studied or worked at Stockholm University.

Academics

Sofja Kovalevskaja, a mathematician and the first female professor of mathematics in Europe.
Svante Arrhenius, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1903.
Hans von Euler-Chelpin, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1929.
George de Hevesy, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1943.
Paul Crutzen, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995.
Frank Wilczek, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2004.
Tomas Tranströmer, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2011.
Gunnar Myrdal, an economist and politician who won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1974.
Bert Bolin, a meteorologist and the first chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Christer Fuglesang, an astronaut and the first Swede in space.

Alumni

Many people who studied at Stockholm University have become successful in business, politics, and entertainment.

Business Leaders

Mia Brunell, CEO of Kinnevik.
Annika Falkengren, CEO of SEB.
Peter Wallenberg, a Swedish business leader.

Politicians and Public Figures

Hans Blix, a diplomat.
Carl Bildt, who was Prime Minister of Sweden from 1991–1994.
Dag Hammarskjöld, who was the U.N. Secretary General.
Karin Kock-Lindberg, the first woman to be a Minister in Sweden.
Princess Madeleine of Sweden, who studied art history.
Olof Palme, who was Prime Minister of Sweden.
Andreas Papandreou, a Greek prime minister.
Fredrik Reinfeldt, who was Prime Minister of Sweden from 2006–2014.
Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, who studied Political Science.

Entertainment and Art Personalities

Ingmar Bergman, a famous film director.
Dr. Alban, a musician.
Petra Mede, a comedian and TV presenter.
Greg Poehler, an actor and author.
Johan Rheborg, an actor.

Sportspeople

Johan Harmenberg, an Olympic champion in fencing.