Did you know that Umeå University became Sweden's fifth university on 17 September 1965? This was achieved in great part to the marketing efforts of Gösta Skoglund, a local politician and member of the Swedish Parliament from 1940–1970.
300,000+
Alumni across the world
37,942
Total enrolled students
60
Nationalities represented
2020
Nobel Prize in Chemistry
The politicians had to choose between Härnösand and Umeå. They decided on Umeå in 1963, changing the course of the city's history.
In 1956 it was the dental school that led the way to higher education in Umeå. In 1958, Umeå launched a teaching hospital. And in 1963, the decision was made to establish a university in Umeå, and Umeå University was inaugurated on the 17th of September 1965, by the then king, Gustav VI Adolf.
During 1965 there were only about 2,000 students. Today the total of students - including those at the postgraduate level - is approximately 38,000. Many of these students are taking courses via distance education, or online learning. Additionally, there are 4,600 teachers, researchers, and technical and administrative staff members employed by the university.
