Like many European countries, Sweden has experienced a trend of urbanisation in recent years, tied to changes in the rural economy, industries, and society. Small rural communities have experienced an outflow of inhabitants and face a consequent risk of diminishing societal resilience. New technologies and working methods open possibilities for rural depopulated communities. However, the experiences and opinions of children and young people living in these communities are vital for the continued sustainable development of these places. This course aims to address this urgent need.
In this summer course, students will collaborate to design and construct attractive, sustainable, and inclusive meeting places for children and young people in the rural inland of northern Sweden. The course will give students the opportunity to develop and practice their design skills in a rural setting. The course will include a two-week residential phase in one of two rural Swedish villages in Västerbotten county. During this phase, students will learn about designing for sustainable and durable small-scale building and apply this knowledge with hands-on construction.
The course consists of two phases - the design phase (June) and the construction phase (August). The design phase takes place at Umeå School of Architecture. The construction phase will take place in rural Vännäs, about 40 km from Umeå.
The course is given full-time in weeks 24-25 and 32-34.
Application and eligibility
Rural Futures: Design-Build in Northern Sweden, 7.5 credits
Summer Term 2025
Starts
9 June 2025
Ends
31 August 2025
Study location
Umeå
Language
English
Type of studies
Daytime,
100%
Required Knowledge
In addition to general entry requirements for university studies, applicants must also have completed at least 30 credits in the main field of architecture. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6.
The online application opens 17 February 2025 at 13:00 CET.
Application deadline is
17 March 2025. How to apply
Application and tuition fees
As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.
