What’s it like to study a Masters in Linköping?
Linköping is one of the oldest cities in Sweden, with a diocese dating back to 1104. It was an important religious and cultural centre in the following centuries, although a fire in 1700 devastated the city. The 1800s saw Linköping benefit from industrialisation, with the Kinda canal finished in 1872. An 80km-long waterway that flows through Linköping, the Kinda canal was key to Linköping’s growth and is a popular tourist destination today, with the operation of its complex series of locks usually drawing a crowd of curious onlookers.
Gamla Linköping Open-Air Museum is a great way to explore the city’s history, giving you the opportunity to walk the cobbled streets of the Old Town and take in picturesque wooden houses and workshops. 30km east of Linköping, meanwhile, is Ekenäs Castle: a Renaissance-era fortress with period furnishings and three imposing towers.
In Linköping itself, Östergötlands Länsmuseum has an eclectic collection that spans renaissance paintings, photography, textiles and Egyptian artefacts. Other cultural institutions in Linköping include the Swedish Air Force Museum (Flygvapenmuseum) and the Swedish Computer Museum (Datamuseet IT-ceum).
Contemporary Linköping is famous for its commitment to sustainability, aiming to become a carbon neutral municipality by 2025. It also enjoys close links (and something of a healthy rivalry) with the neighbouring town of Norrköping, which can be reached in half an hour and is a worthwhile destination in its own right. There’s even a free campus shuttle for students that travels between the two cities.
There is a range of student accommodation options in Linköping, but it’s a good idea to begin your search as soon as possible. You’ll usually need to register with a student housing association, after which you’ll be placed in a queue system.
Universities in Linköping
Linköping University (LiU) received university status in 1975, although the city has a long history of education stretching back to the Linköping Cathedral School, which was founded in the 17th century. Nowadays LiU is a modern and innovative institution that also has campuses in Norrköping and Stockholm. Offering a wide selection of English-language Masters, LiU has around 2,000 international students.
Careers in Linköping
Linköping has a long association with the aerospace industry: Saab’s aircraft factory was established in the city during the 1930s and the company maintains a major presence in the city to this day (as well as close links with Linköping University). It’s estimated that around a third of the workers in Linköping are connected to aviation in one way or another.