Göteborgs universitet
Göteborg, Sweden • Founded 1891 • World Rank #218
Updated May 2026
Overview
Established in 1891, the Göteborgs universitet (University of Gothenburg) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Göteborg (population range of 500,000-1,000,000 inhabitants), Vastra Gotaland County.
Officially recognized by the Utbildningsdepartementet, Sverige (Ministry of Education and Research of Sweden), Göteborgs universitet (GU) is a large-sized coeducational Swedish higher education institution. Göteborgs universitet (GU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor's degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation), bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
This 133-year-old Swedish higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on students' past academic records and grades. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.
GU also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, online courses and distance learning opportunities, as well as administrative services.
Location & Contact
Göteborgs universitet's address, phone, email, and social presence. Department-level scholarship enquiries route faster through the specific faculty rather than central admissions.
Academic Details
Enrolment scale, staff balance, and accreditation context for Göteborgs universitet are below. Female student percentage signals admissions reach and shapes the student-life environment.
Degrees
Also shorter courses, 1-3 semo; Also Executive MBA and Joint Degree Programmes
Bachelor's 71 programs
Bachelor's programmes build foundational expertise, preparing graduates for entry-level professional roles and further postgraduate study.
- Aesthetics
- Anthropology
- Arabic
- Arts and Humanities
- Biology
- Biomedicine
- Business Administration
- Ceramic Art
- Chemistry
- Chinese
- Cognitive Sciences
- Computer Science
- Cultural Studies
- Dental Hygiene
- Dental Technology
- Design
- Dietetics
- Earth Sciences
- Economics
- Education
- English
- European Studies
- Film
- Fine Arts
- French
- Furniture Design
- Geography
- Geography (Human)
- German
- Handicrafts
- Heritage Preservation
- History
- International Studies
- Japanese
- Journalism
- Landscape Architecture
- Law
- Leisure Studies
- Literature
- Management
- Marine Science and Oceanography
- Mass Communication
- Mathematics
- Media Studies
- Modern Languages
- Molecular Biology
- Museum Studies
- Music
- Music Theory and Composition
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy
- Opera
- Pedagogy
- Physical Therapy
- Political Sciences
- Public Administration
- Radiology
- Religious Music
- Russian
- Social Sciences
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Software Engineering
- Spanish
- Sports
- Teacher Training
- Textile Design
- Theatre
- Theology
- Transport Management
- Weaving
Master's 106 programs
Master's programmes develop advanced specialised expertise, suited to senior industry positions and applied research.
- Accountancy
- Acting
- Anaesthesiology
- Archaeology
- Art Criticism
- Arts and Humanities
- Bible
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biology
- Business Administration
- Ceramic Art
- Chemistry
- Child Care and Development
- Cinema and Television
- Classical Languages
- Communication Studies
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Conducting
- Cultural Studies
- Data Processing
- Dentistry
- Design
- Dietetics
- Display and Stage Design
- Earth Sciences
- Ecology
- Economics
- Education
- Educational Administration
- Educational Research
- Educational Technology
- Environmental Studies
- European Studies
- Film
- Finance
- Fine Arts
- Furniture Design
- Gender Studies
- Genetics
- Geography (Human)
- Gerontology
- Glass Art
- Government
- Handicrafts
- Health Sciences
- Heritage Preservation
- Human Rights
- Hygiene
- Information Technology
- International Studies
- Jewellery Art
- Journalism
- Labour and Industrial Relations
- Leadership
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Logic
- Management
- Marine Biology
- Marine Science and Oceanography
- Marketing
- Mass Communication
- Mathematics
- Mathematics Education
- Medicine
- Meteorology
- Microbiology
- Midwifery
- Modern Languages
- Molecular Biology
- Music
- Musical Instruments
- Natural Resources
- Nursing
- Opera
- Organic Chemistry
- Pedagogy
- Performing Arts
- Pharmacy
- Philosophy
- Photography
- Physics
- Police Studies
- Political Sciences
- Psychology
- Psychotherapy
- Public Administration
- Public Health
- Science Education
- Social Sciences
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Software Engineering
- Special Education
- Speech Therapy and Audiology
- Swedish
- Teacher Training
- Technology Education
- Textile Design
- Theatre
- Theology
- Translation and Interpretation
- Video
- Weaving
- Writing
Other 37 programs
- Art History
- Arts and Humanities
- Biology
- Business Administration
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Design
- Earth Sciences
- Economics
- Education
- Film
- Fine Arts
- Food Science
- Gender Studies
- History
- Information Technology
- Law
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Logic
- Mathematics
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Modern Languages
- Music Theory and Composition
- Musical Instruments
- Musicology
- Natural Sciences
- Nutrition
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Religious Studies
- Social Sciences
- Speech Therapy and Audiology
- Sports
- Technology
- Theatre
- Theology
Faculties & Divisions
All faculties operate under Utbildningsdepartementet, Sverige.
The Sahlgrenska Academy (Academy) 4 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Dentistry
- Health Sciences
- Medicine
- Pharmacy
Arts (Faculty) 31 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Aesthetics
- African Languages
- Ancient Civilizations
- Archaeology
- Art Criticism
- Art History
- Arts and Humanities
- Comparative Literature
- Comparative Religion
- Cultural Studies
- Dutch
- English
- Ethnology
- Fine Arts
- German
- Greek
- History
- History of Religion
- Latin
- Linguistics
- Logic
- Modern Languages
- Oriental Languages
- Philosophy
- Phonetics
- Religious Studies
- Romance Languages
- Slavic Languages
- Swedish
- Theatre
- Theology
Education (Faculty) 10 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Child Care and Development
- Communication Studies
- Education
- Food Science
- Home Economics
- Nutrition
- Pedagogy
- Special Education
- Sports
- Vocational Education
Common Career Paths
- Teacher
- Educational Administrator
- Curriculum Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Fine, Applied and Performing Arts (Faculty) 14 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Art Management
- Design
- Film
- Fine Arts
- Handicrafts
- Music
- Music Theory and Composition
- Musical Instruments
- Opera
- Performing Arts
- Photography
- Theatre
- Visual Arts
- Writing
Information Technology (Faculty) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Information Sciences
- Information Technology
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Software Engineering
Common Career Paths
- IT Consultant
- Network Engineer
- Cybersecurity Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Science (Faculty) 15 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Botany
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Earth Sciences
- Ecology
- Environmental Studies
- Marine Science and Oceanography
- Mathematics
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Molecular Biology
- Natural Sciences
- Physics
- Statistics
- Zoology
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Social Sciences (Faculty) 7 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Information Sciences
- Museum Studies
- Peace and Disarmament
- Social Sciences
- Social Work
- Vocational Counselling
- Welfare and Protective Services
Common Career Paths
- Researcher
- Policy Analyst
- Social Worker
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Teacher Training (Faculty) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Teacher Training
Business, Economics and Law (School) 3 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Business Administration
- Economics
- Law
Common Career Paths
- Business Analyst
- Operations Manager
- Strategy Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Programs Offered
Browse Göteborgs universitet's programmes by level, or filter by name to find a specific course. The grouping helps when you have a target qualification tier but want to compare specific programme content.
96 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Sweden
Bachelor's Degree 17 programmes
Showing 10 of 17.
Master's Degree 79 programmes
Showing 10 of 79.
How to apply to Göteborgs universitet
Below is a five-step path through the application process at Göteborgs universitet, useful for first-time applicants and international students.
-
1
Research programmes at Göteborgs universitet
Begin by reviewing the programmes section above. Göteborgs universitet offers 96 programmes grouped by qualification level. Decide on a target tier (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) before narrowing by subject.
-
2
Review admissions criteria
Each programme at Göteborgs universitet has its own entry requirements — academic minimums, language proficiency, supporting documents, and sometimes interviews or portfolios. Check the programme-specific page or contact admissions to confirm eligibility.
-
3
Gather supporting documents
Most applications require certified academic records, identification documents, language test certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent for English-medium programmes), CV/résumé, and a statement of purpose. Allow extra time for document authentication.
-
4
Lodge your application
Apply directly via Göteborgs universitet's online portal at www.gu.se. Complete the application form, upload supporting documents, and pay any application fee. Confirmation emails typically arrive within a few business days.
-
5
Confirm receipt and track progress
After submitting, confirm receipt with the admissions office and track your application status through the portal. Reach the institution by phone at +46 (31) 786 1000. Set reminders for any interview requests, additional document submissions, or admission decision deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions about Göteborgs universitet
Below are the key facts most prospective students ask about Göteborgs universitet, drawn directly from institutional records.
When did Göteborgs universitet open?
Göteborgs universitet traces its founding to 1891 (approximately 135 years ago).
In which city is Göteborgs universitet?
Göteborgs universitet is based in Göteborg, Sweden.
Is Göteborgs universitet a public or private institution?
Göteborgs universitet operates as a public institution.
How many students study at Göteborgs universitet?
Göteborgs universitet has approximately 20,000-24,999 students.
Where does Göteborgs universitet stand in university rankings?
Göteborgs universitet holds rank #218 globally and #5 in Sweden.
What programmes are available at Göteborgs universitet?
Programmes at Göteborgs universitet cover bachelor's and master's programmes.
Is Göteborgs universitet accredited?
The institution holds recognition from Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ).
Where can I learn more about Göteborgs universitet?
Göteborgs universitet's official website is www.gu.se.
Members of European University Association (EUA)
Network-level rankings exist for some European University Association (EUA) groupings (e.g., U21, Universitas 21). These differ from country rankings and reflect coordinated members' shared performance.
Faculties at nearby universities
The universities below sit close to Göteborgs universitet geographically and may suit students who want to stay within the same region for study. Proximity affects commuting cost, family contact, and the ease of switching institutions if circumstances change.
Where Else to Study Linguistics & Language Studies
Programme-level scholarships for Linguistics & Language Studies students vary substantially across Sweden institutions. Often the less-marketed scholarships are the easiest to secure for qualified applicants.
Universities Compared with Göteborgs universitet
Application tier strategy benefits from including peer institutions to Göteborgs universitet: safety, target, and reach picks within a comparable academic band keep your outcomes diversified.
Studying in Sweden: guides and resources
Spotted something outdated or missing?
Help us keep this page accurate — it takes about 30 seconds.
