Higher Education Institutions in Sweden

Higher Education Institutions in Sweden have great autonomy in the structuring of studies, utilisation of resources, and general administration.

Higher Education Institutions in Sweden comprises of the Universities and University Colleges. Most of the universities and university colleges in Sweden are public authorities, while other universities and university colleges are autonomous, i.e. they function on the basis of an agreement with the Government and are required to abide by the legislative acts pertinent to the higher education sector. Besides, there are a few independent organisations, having a degree granting power in the field of Psychotherapy. The higher education institutions come under the legal power of the Ministry of Education, excluding the University of Agricultural Sciences, which falls under the licit power of the Ministry of Agriculture. 

Sweden's first university was established in Uppsala in 1477, and the second university was established in Lund in 1668 as the interest in studying medicine and the natural sciences grew. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the major function of the universities was education. Stockholm University, established in 1878 and the University of Gothenburg in 1891 and both concentrated on the teaching of natural sciences. At the start of the twentieth century, specialised institutions, like the teacher training institutes, social work or journalism institutions were established. Between 1940 and 1975, the emphasis was laid on research, and new research organisations were founded during this period. In the second half of the twentieth century, there was a considerable growth of higher education sector in Sweden and the student population grew tremendously. Regional higher education institutions were established throughout Sweden for everyone to gain easy access to higher education. 

Swedish universities offer programs across all three cycles, awarding qualifications at basic (Undergraduate), advanced (Master) and doctoral levels.

Universities have degree granting authority at all the three levels of study in Sweden:

Also, they have a right to handle government funding for research.

For exclusive details see List of Universities in Sweden