The 20 best universities in Scandinavia - 2020 rankings
Flags of Scandinavia by flöschen, CC BY 2.0, modified
For many international students, studying in Scandinavia is a life-changing, highly rewarding experience - and they are sure to receive a notable, world-class education. The four Scandinavian countries - i.e. Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden - are known for their highly advanced educational systems.
In the table below, you can find the top 20 universities in Scandinavia, based on most recent data provided by the major international rankings: the Times Higher Education ranking (THE), the QS University World ranking, and the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU or “Shanghai Ranking”).
| University | Country | QS | THE | ARWU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Copenhagen (KU) | Denmark | 72 | 116 | 29 |
| Lund University | Sweden | 92 | 98 | 101 |
| KTH Royal Institute of Technology | Sweden | 98 | 187 | 201 |
| University of Helsinki | Finland | 107 | 99 | 57 |
| Technical University of Denmark (DTU) | Denmark | 112 | 163 | 151 |
| Uppsala University | Sweden | 116 | 87 | 63 |
| University of Oslo | Norway | 119 | 121 | 62 |
| Aalto University | Finland | 134 | 181 | 301 |
| Chalmers University of Technology | Sweden | 140 | 201 | 201 |
| Aarhus University (AU) | Denmark | 145 | 123 | 65 |
| University of Bergen | Norway | 163 | 197 | 201 |
| Stockholm University | Sweden | 191 | 153 | 77 |
| University of Gothenburg | Sweden | 256 | 201 | 101 |
| University of Turku | Finland | 287 | 351 | 301 |
| Aalborg University (AAU) | Denmark | 324 | 194 | 201 |
| Linköping University | Sweden | 324 | 351 | 301 |
| Umeå University | Sweden | 340 | 301 | 401 |
| University of Jyväskylä | Finland | 346 | 401 | 601 |
| Norwegian University of Science and Technology | Norway | 359 | 351 | 101 |
| University of Southern Denmark (SDU) | Denmark | 372 | 251 | 301 |
Six of the twenty universities rank among the world’s top 100 in at least one ranking, and they are spread out across all four Scandinavian countries. Many of these top universities, such as Lund University, the University of Helsinki or Uppsala University, offer a large variety of programmes for many different areas of study. You are sure to find the study programme that suits your needs - and with a degree from these universities, you set the course for a great career in academics or business.
Find study programmes in Scandinavia
While not all universities in the list made it into the global top 100, their academic quality is notable, and you can expect some of the best educational offerings that you can receive around the world. The University of Oslo, for example, has a wide range of research programmes ranging from entrepreneurship to physics, and is known for the Nobel laureates it spawned over the years. As the second oldest university in Denmark, Aarhus University is known as a very international school with a large variety of programmes, hosting over 1,000 international students per year in both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
To study in Scandinavia does not only mean obtaining a world-class education at some of Europe’s finest universities. It also means being exposed to rich cultural influences in an exciting region. If you are hard-pressed on making a choice among so many attractive universities and cities, you should not fear to miss out: You can always explore the region with short train or boat trips and get to know the surrounding countries, as well.
You want to study in Scandinavia and learn more about their top ranked universities? Then check out the full rankings for Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
For the full global rankings statistics, read more on the official sites:
This article was last updated on 9 August 2019.
