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Karlstad University

41.3(0)
VerifiedPublicEstd. 1999
Founded
1999
Type
Public

About Karlstad University

Established in 1997, Karlstad University is located in Karlstad, Sweden. It strives for international outlook and has partnered over 200 institutes across the world such as in Germany, France, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, China, Korea, and Japan.

Karlstad University Campus

One of the youngest universities in Sweden, it has over 16,000 undergraduate students with over 230 research students. Karlstad University offers undergraduate and graduate courses in over 80 programs across 700 courses.

Karlstad University Rankings

  • Ranked 801st - 1000th in the World University Rankings by Times Higher Education.
  • Ranked 201st - 250th in the Young University Rankings by Times Higher Education.
  • Ranked 251-300 in the category of Business and Economics by Times Higher Education.
  • Ranked 18th in the country and 1647th in the world by CUWR.

Highlights

Type Public
Established 1997
Campus Setting Urban
Application Mode Online
Cost of Living 40,400 SEK (per 5 months)
Number of Students 16,250
Academic Calendar Semester Based (5 months)
Finance Type Non-Profit
Faculties 2
Medium Of Instruction English and Swedish
Application Fee 900 SEK
Tuition Fee Individual programs: 95,000 SEK to 245,000 SEK
All courses: 2,500 SEK (expect English taught Master programs)
Admission Helpdesk [email protected]
+46 54-700 10 00
Official Website https://www.kau.se/en

Karlstad University Campus

  • The university campus has a beautiful and convenient infrastructure. It has a vibrant student life with a perfect blend of work and pleasure.
  • It includes unique features like the egg-shaped multimedia studios, library building, Vanern building, study areas, lecture theatres, classrooms, etc.
  • It has two schools:
    • Karlstad Business School
    • Ingesund School of Music

Karlstad University Residence

Karlstad University does not provide for the campus residence but assists in managing houses and other residences for the students to live near the university with ease.

  • The university offers housing facilities through a dwelling company called the KBAB and has a partnership with it.
  • The international students are required to obtain a residence permit before arriving in Sweden in order to live there and study.
  • The KBAB manages 7,500 rental apartments and helps students with the suitable rents and apartments available nearby the university.

Karlstad University Programs

  • It offers undergraduate and graduate programs through two faculties:
    • Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
    • Faculty of Health, Science and Technology
  • It has two schools: Karlstad Business School and Ingesund School of Music.
  • Some of the popular bachelor programs include European Studies, Social Work, Electrical Engineering, International Studies, Law Program, Social Analysis, Innovation and Design Engineering, Nursing, etc.
  • Some of the popular master programs include Educational Leadership and School Development, Marketing, History, Social Analysis, Special Education, Ecology, And Conservation Biology, etc.
  • Other programs include Biology, Business Administration, Cultural Studies, Dance, Economics, Public Health Science, Statistics, Sports Science, etc.

Karlstad University Admissions

Application Portal: Applicants can apply for the Karlstad University admissions through the universityadmissions.se portal.

Application Fee: 900 SEK

Intake Sessions: Autumn and Spring

Application Deadlines:

Sessions/Programs Nomination Deadlines Application Deadlines
Spring October 1 October 15
Autumn April 1 April 15
Master Degree Programs February 15 March 1

Admission Requirements:

  • Completed Application
  • The student should be nominated by his/her home institution for the university.
  • Official Transcripts
  • A 1-2 page letter of motivation
  • Learning Agreement
  • Letter of Recommendation
  • Residence Permit
  • Health Insurance

English language Requirements:

Tests Scores
IELTS For English 5 [5.5 (no section under 5.0)]
For English 6 [6.5 (no section under 5.5)]
For English 7 [7.0 (no section under 6.0)]
TOEFL PBT- 4.0 to 4.5 iBT- 17 to 20
Cambridge Michigan Language Assessments English 6
PTE 47 to 68
Cambridge ESOL 180 to 200 points For English 5- grade A, B or C

Karlstad University Cost of Attendance

The tuition fee of the university is only applicable to free movers i.e. students from outside Sweden and the students of EU/EEA countries are free from tuition fee payments.

Degrees Tuition Fee Range
Individual Programs 95,000 SEK to 2,35,000 SEK
Per Credit Charge for Masters 2,500 SEK

Cost Of Living

Expenses Amount
Rent for Accommodation 19,000 SEK
Bedclothes 400 SEK
Food 13,000 SEK
Medical and personal care 1,000 SEK
Literature Course 4,000 SEK
Entertainment Expenses 3,000 SEK
Total (per 5 months) 40,400 SEK (8,080 per month)

Karlstad University Financial Aid

  • The university offers Karlstad University Global Scholarship that covers the tuition fee payments of the students.
    • Students can apply for it once they have paid the application fee.
    • The application deadline for the scholarship is December 1 to February 1.
    • Scholarship is likely to cover 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of the tuition fees of the students.
  • Besides the Global scholarship, the students can also apply for the Swedish Institute Study Scholarships.
    • The Swedish Institute offers more than 500 scholarships each year for the students to cover their costs while living in Sweden.

Karlstad University Alumni

  • It has a large network of alumni. The university also has an official alumni group for international alumni called the Karlstad University International Alumni Network.
  • It hosts events and reunions and each year awards the alumni of the year.
  • Alumni Ambassadors- The alumni become the face of the university and represent their studies and knowledge in different areas and fields in various places.

Karlstad University Placements

  • Most of the programs require internships to complete the degree requirements.
  • The students can carry out their practical placements in the form of internships or traineeships.
  • The students can find related placements through Erasmusintern.org or Erasmus.com.
  • The students can also apply for the Erasmus+ traineeship which will be 510 – 615 EURO per month.
Courses & Fees

Compare courses in a cleaner, easier way

Explore tuition, duration, language, eligibility, and exam requirements without the clutter.

Courses

11

Fee from

₹11,51,150

Exams

TOEFL · IELTS

Showing 0 bachelors

Admission Process

The university offers around 900 courses in the fields of humanities, science, technology, social science, teaching, arts, and health care. It has around 16,000 students enrolled. One bachelor and 21 master’s courses are offered in the English language.

  • Applicants for UG and PG courses can apply through UniversityAdmissions.se.
  • Applicants applying for courses offered in the Swedish language are required to proof of submit Swedish language proficiency.
  • Exchange students are given priority for admissions at Karlstad University.

Highlights

Application Portal Online portal: universityadmissions.se
Type of university Public
Registration fee Domestic Applicants: N/A
International Applicants: 900 SEK
Mode of Payment Credit card/ Bank transfer/ BankGiro (for Swedish residents only)
Academic Calendar Semester- based
Intake Sessions Spring/ Summer/ Autumn
Financial Aid Scholarships, Work-Study

Karlstad University Admission Deadlines

The deadlines for the Spring and Autumn term are tabulated below:

Term Application closes
Spring October 15
Autumn April 15

Karlstad University International Admissions

There are several additional requirements for international students along with the general requirements which are the same as the domestic applicants.

Admission Requirements for International Students

  • Official transcripts of upper secondary school/high school education.
  • English proficiency test scores have to be submitted by students applying for courses offered in the English language.
  • Evidence of insurance.
  • Medical check-up prescription.
  • Passport.
  • Copies of other documents.
  • There are various specific departmental requirements as well which include auditions and interviews.

Language Proficiency Test Score

The university offers courses in English as well as Swedish. International applicants are required to prove their proficiency in English in order to be admitted to the courses offered in English universities in Sweden. There are specific requirements for certain courses.

However, the general requirement for Bachelor’s as well as Master’s courses is the equivalent of English language studies in high school (upper-secondary) level in Sweden which is called English 6.

Test Minimum required score (UG) Minimum required score (PG)
IELTS Academic Overall 5.5 (band score 5.0) Overall 6.5 with no band less than 5.5
TOEFL- iBT Overall 72 Overall 90
TOEFL- PBT Overall 530 Overall 575
TOEFL- CBT Overall 173 Overall 213

In order to take admission in courses offered in Swedish, international students will have to provide their documentation of knowledge of Swedish issued by Test in Swedish for University Studies (TISUS).

Visa Process for International Students 

International applicants are required to have a student visa and residence permit. The requirements for applying for a Swedish visa are mentioned below:

  • The selected applicants will be issued a Letter of Admission from Karlstad University.
  • After receiving the Letter of Acceptance, the applicants belonging to non-EU countries will be required to apply for a residence permit.
  • You will be required to book an appointment with the Swedish embassy or consulate in your country.
  • Documents required for completing the visa application are:
    • Letter of Admission
    • Passport
    • Passport size photos
    • Bank statement
    • Finance certificate
  • Schedule and attend the visa interview by consulting the Swedish embassy in the country.

Karlstad University Undergraduate Admissions

Karlstad University offers a number of bachelor courses in two faculties which are the Faculty of Social Science and Arts and Faculty of Science, Health and Technology. Some of the departments include History, Dance, Business Administration, Psychology, Human Geography, Sociology, etc. Each course has specific requirements. However, the basic application procedure remains the same for all courses.

Where to Apply: universityadmission.se

Registration Fee: 900 SEK

Admission Requirements:

  • Completion of upper secondary school (high school).
  • Official transcripts of schools attended previously.
  • Financial Support Documents
  • International students need to prove their proficiency in English or Swedish as per the requirement of the program by providing their proficiency test scores.
  • Certain courses have specific requirements which might include auditions, interviews etc.

Karlstad University Graduate Admissions

Karlstad University provides masters a number of masters programs. Each course has specific admission requirements. However, the basic requirements for admission are the same for all courses.

Where to Apply: universityadmission.se

Admission requirements:

  • UG degree in the relevant subject
  • Officially issued transcripts
  • Notarized diplomas and certificates should be submitted, if applicable.
  • English language proficiency test scores
  • 120 ECTS (Europian Credit Transfer System) in UG degree.
  • Translations of transcripts, for international applicants.

After being granted admission, the students will be required to confirm their acceptance of the offer or else their place will be forfeited. The students will also have to register on the website in the beginning of every term. Registering at the beginning of the term also has certain other benefits which include discounts offered by the student union, guaranty of examination admittance, allotment of resources to faculty, etc.

The university also offers exchange programs and has agreements with universities in around 35 countries. Around 250 exchange students are enrolled in the university every year. Priority admissions are offered to transfer applicants.

Placements & Recruiters

Karlstad University Placement Details

Karlstad University in Karlstad, Varmland, Sweden placement details include salary insights, top recruiters, and hiring trends to help students understand career outcomes and campus opportunities.

Students usually compare highest package, average package, and recruiter profile before applying. This section gives a compact overview of career outcomes and placement visibility in Karlstad, Varmland, Sweden.

Recruiters
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Salary Metrics
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Placement Metric

Highest Package

N/A

Represents the top salary package reported in the available placement information.

Placement Metric

Average Package

N/A

Shows the typical package range students may expect based on the available average salary data.

Placement information is currently limited.

More salary or recruiter data may be updated later for this college.

Rankings over the years

Year-wise highlights from global and country rankings available for this university.

2021

Highlights
2021
  • Best overall country rank: #9
  • Social Studies: #8 in country
  • Top source: THE
  • 2 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Overall, Social Studies
  • 2 ranking records in 2021

2022

Highlights
2022
  • Best overall country rank: #11
  • Engineering: #6 in country
  • Top source: THE
  • 5 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Overall, Computer Science
  • 3 ranking records in 2022

2023

Highlights
2023
  • Best overall country rank: #11
  • Accounting: #8 in country
  • Top source: THE
  • 8 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Overall, Accounting
  • 2 ranking records in 2023

2024

Highlights
2024
  • Best overall country rank: #12
  • Social Studies: #7 in country
  • Top source: THE
  • 3 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Overall, Engineering
  • 2 ranking records in 2024

2025

Highlights
2025
  • Best overall country rank: #16
  • Overall: #16 in country
  • Top source: CWUR
  • 1 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Overall
  • 1 ranking record in 2025

Contact Information

Universitetsgatan 2, 651 88 Karlstad

+46-54-700-1000

Student Reviews & Ratings

Overall sentiment and category-wise rating summary

Overall score

41.3/10
Top Rated

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