Uppsala University, founded in 1477, is the oldest university in the Nordic countries, based in the historic city of Uppsala north of Stockholm, with a second campus in Visby on the island of Gotland. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it rose from 93rd to 87th in the world and was the third-highest-ranked university in Sweden. It’s known for medicine, pharmacy, the life sciences, peace and conflict research, and the humanities.
Uppsala teaches most bachelor’s programmes in Swedish but offers a few in English and many master’s programmes in English. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on Uppsala University’s own guidance and official Swedish government information.
1. Find one of the few bachelor’s programmes in English
Uppsala says only a few of its bachelor’s programmes are taught in English. For autumn 2027 they include the Bachelor’s Programme in Holocaust and Genocide Studies in Uppsala and the Bachelor’s Programme in Leadership, Quality Management and Improvement at Campus Gotland in Visby. Many other bachelor’s programmes, such as Business and Economics, are taught in Swedish, so check the language of instruction on each programme page.
2. Apply through University Admissions in Sweden
You apply to Uppsala University, and to other Swedish universities, through the national website Universityadmissions.se, where you can rank several programmes in one application. For autumn 2027, the international round opens on 16 October 2026 and closes on 15 January 2027, and you must upload your documents and pay the SEK 900 application fee by 1 February 2027. Results are announced in April. Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland should apply in this first round, because the second round doesn’t leave enough time for a residence permit. University Admissions: application fee.
3. Meet the entry requirements
You need to meet the general entry requirements, including English and mathematics, and the specific requirements for your programme. The Leadership, Quality Management and Improvement programme, for example, asks for advanced mathematics, equivalent to the Swedish course Mathematics 3b or 3c. Check each programme’s requirements and University Admissions’ guidance for your country.
4. Prove your English
For most bachelor’s and master’s programmes taught in English, you need the equivalent of the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. You can meet it through your school studies in many countries, or with a test such as IELTS Academic with an overall score of 6.5 and no section below 5.5 (IELTS General Training isn’t accepted). Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests. University Admissions: English requirements.
5. Consider a Swedish-taught programme if you speak Swedish
If you’re fluent in Swedish, many more programmes are open to you. For programmes taught in Swedish you need to prove Swedish at the level of the upper secondary course Swedish 3, for example through the TISUS test.
6. Apply for an Uppsala University scholarship
Uppsala has a very limited number of scholarships that cover tuition fees for international students on its bachelor’s programmes, and only students from certain countries can apply. You must put an Uppsala international bachelor’s programme as your first choice on University Admissions, and the next scholarship round opens in early 2027. The scholarships don’t cover living costs. Uppsala University bachelor’s scholarships.
7. Understand the fees
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don’t pay tuition fees. For other students, one semester of full-time study costs between SEK 49,500 and SEK 90,000, depending on the programme, and you pay each semester in advance. Uppsala bachelor’s tuition fees.
8. Look for housing early
Uppsala is a large student city, and housing is in demand at the start of the autumn semester. Start looking for accommodation as soon as you’re offered a place, and budget for living costs in addition to your tuition.
9. Pay your first instalment, then apply for a residence permit
EU/EEA citizens don’t need a permit to study in Sweden, and Swiss citizens apply for a residence permit for Swiss citizens. If you’re from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, your offer from Uppsala University is only final once you’ve paid your first tuition instalment, and the Swedish Migration Agency won’t approve your residence permit for studies until Uppsala University confirms the payment. You must also show that you can support yourself, with at least SEK 10,656 a month if you apply in 2026, and have comprehensive health insurance if your studies last less than a year. Apply as soon as you’ve paid, because processing can take time. Swedish Migration Agency: studies at higher education.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
The rules on working changed in 2026. If your residence permit for bachelor’s or master’s studies was granted on or after 11 June 2026, you can work a maximum of 15 hours a week, and working more can lead to your permit being withdrawn. There are exceptions for work that’s part of your education, such as an internship, and once you’ve completed the equivalent of two semesters you can work more for the rest of your permit. After you graduate, you can apply for a residence permit for up to one year to look for work or start a business, but you must apply before your student permit expires. Swedish Migration Agency: look for work after your studies.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at Uppsala?
Uppsala offers many master’s programmes in English, and you apply in the same round through University Admissions, with a bachelor’s degree that meets the programme’s requirements. The Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals cover tuition and a living allowance for master’s applicants from selected countries. PhD positions in Sweden are paid jobs, advertised by each department. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Uppsala’s English-taught bachelor’s places are limited, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to Lund University, KTH, Stockholm University and Chalmers. Our guide to studying in Sweden explains how the Swedish system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from Uppsala University’s official programme, fee and scholarship pages, University Admissions in Sweden, the Swedish Migration Agency and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on Uppsala University’s study website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with Uppsala University.