What’s it like to study a Masters in Uppsala?
Uppsala is one of the oldest cities in Sweden, dating back to the country’s pagan era. After Sweden was Christianised in the 1100s, Uppsala became the location of the Church of Sweden’s Archbishop. Uppsala University was founded in 1477, becoming an important hub for the sciences during the Enlightenment in the 18th century. Andreas Celsius – creator of the eponymous temperature scale – studied at the university during this time, along with pioneering taxonomist Carl Linnaeus.
Since then, Uppsala University has grown considerably and now has a student population of over 40,000, making Uppsala one of Sweden’s liveliest university towns. There are plenty of quirky traditions among the student body, including the ‘Flogsta scream’ – a way for stressed students to let off steam during exam period. Meanwhile, every Walpurgis Eve (30 April), students race down the River Fyris in homemade rafts.
The Linnaean Gardens of Uppsala are a good way to escape the hubbub of student life, hosting a tropical greenhouse as well as a 200-year-old orangery. Uppsala Castle, an imposing Renaissance palace, is now an important cultural institution that is home to three museums.
Stockholm is around 40 minutes away by train, so it’s easy to enjoy the sights of Scandinavia’s largest city while you’re studying in Uppsala. Nature-loving postgraduates can reach Ekoln, the northern-most part of Sweden’s third biggest lake, as well as dense woodland. During the long winters, ice-fishing and cross-country skiing are two of the most common Swedish part-times.
Owing to Uppsala’s popularity as a student destination – over 40,000 people study in this small city of around 200,000 people – accommodation can be hard to come by. It’s wise to begin your search as soon as possible, registering with Uppsala University Housing Office, Studentboet or Studentstaden.
Universities in Uppsala
Uppsala University is a public research university that has long been one of Sweden’s academic centres, counting 15 Nobel laureates among its alumni. Although Swedish is the primary teaching language, there are around 80 Masters programmes at Uppsala University that are taught in English.
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences is also based in Uppsala. Nearly all of its Masters programmes are taught in English, with sustainability a major focus.
Careers in Uppsala
Uppsala is a major hub for life sciences and biotechnology. Due to its proximity to the Swedish capital, many workers also commute from Uppsala to Stockholm.
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