Sweden offers biology and biology-related study options at universities across the country. The available pathways differ by institution: some universities offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral studies in biology, while KTH Royal Institute of Technology focuses on biotechnology and related life-science fields. Let’s take a look at the best universities in Sweden to st udy biology.
Top Schools Offering Biology in Sweden
1. Karolinska Institutet
Karolinska Institutet provides biology-related education through biomedicine in Solna, near Stockholm, Sweden. Its programs focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying human health and disease. Students interested in biological research can pursue academic biomedicine degrees and doctoral research, with teaching connected to research laboratories and departments such as Cell and Molecular Biology.
The three-year Bachelor’s Programme in Biomedicine comprises 180 credits and awards a Bachelor of Medical Science with a major in Biomedicine. Taught in English, it includes chemistry, cell and developmental biology, genetics, genomics, immunology, microbiology, and physiology. Laboratory work runs throughout the curriculum, and the final degree project can be completed in an academic research setting or the life science industry.
The English-taught Master’s Programme in Biomedicine comprises 120 credits and awards a Master of Medical Science with a major in Biomedicine. Students select electives and independent research projects to develop specialized interests. Doctoral education formally falls under Medical Science and normally requires four years of full-time study. Biological training includes the Cell Biology and Genetics doctoral network, covering genetics, epigenetics, genomics, and bioinformatics.
What Current Students / Alumni of Karolinska Institutet Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Muhammad Arslan Aslam
PhD in Biochemical Toxicology
Institute of Environmental Medicine; joined Anna Beronius’ research group in 2025 | His doctoral focus concerns how environmental chemicals affect biological systems and human health. He reports that his doctoral courses and research activities are conducted in English, with no academic barrier from not knowing Swedish. | He describes his toxicology research environment as collaborative and interdisciplinary, with access to research infrastructure and exposure to both academic and regulatory perspectives. |
2. Uppsala University
Founded in 1477, Uppsala University is the oldest university in the Nordic region. Initially, teaching primarily consisted of lectures in philosophy, law, and theology. Over the centuries, the university expanded its range of subjects and developed into a comprehensive research university.
Biology-related undergraduate education at Uppsala University is coordinated by the Biology Education Centre. The center organizes education in biology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, and environmental biology. Its programs include a bachelor’s program in biology and molecular biology, which is taught in Swedish, and a master’s program in biology with seven specializations. At the doctoral level, the Biology PhD School brings together students across the university’s three biology research departments.
What Current Students / Alumni of Uppsala University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Gouripriya Sreekumar Menon
Joint Master’s in Paleobiology, Applied Paleontology, and Geoheritage (PANGEA)
Paleobiology track; three semesters at Uppsala | Her paleobiology training covered the early origins of life and vertebrate paleontology, with hands-on learning. She reports English-medium instruction throughout her joint master’s. | She describes the instructors in her paleobiology training as approachable and willing to engage with students’ questions. Her master’s thesis was completed at the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm. |
3. Lund University
Lund University was founded in 1666. The university has three campuses in Lund, Malmö, and Helsingborg and approximately 46,000 students. It offers study opportunities at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, as well as exchange studies and distance learning.
Lund University’s Department of Biology was founded in 2010 through a merger of five departments, although biology has a much longer history at the university. When Lund University was founded in 1666, medical students studied botany, which is part of biology. Today, the department covers a broad range of areas, from molecules and protein production to ecological systems, and from genetic code to behavior. It also collaborates across fields including medicine, technology, physics, chemistry, and philosophy.
4. Stockholm University
Stockholm University is situated in the Swedish capital. Stockholm University College was founded in 1878 and was granted university status in 1960. The university’s education and research activities are divided into two academic areas: Human Sciences and Sciences. These areas encompass four faculties: Humanities, Law, Social Sciences, and Science.
Biology education at Stockholm University is coordinated by the Department of Biology Education, also known as BIG. The department is responsible for biology education at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, while research and postgraduate education are led by the university’s biological research departments. Its courses and programs cover biology from molecules to ecosystems. The bachelor’s programs are offered in Swedish, while the department also offers ten two-year master’s programs specializing in different areas of biology. Doctoral study opportunities are available through the relevant biological research departments.
5. University of Gothenburg
Situated in the city bearing the same name, the University of Gothenburg traces its roots to Gothenburg University College, which was founded in 1891. In 1907, it became an independent university college with the same status as the national universities of Uppsala University and Lund University. The University of Gothenburg was formally founded in 1954 through the amalgamation of the university college and a medical college. Today, the university’s core research and education activities are organized across seven faculties and 38 departments.
Students interested in biology can study at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, commonly referred to as BioEnv. The department offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral-level studies, primarily in biology and environmental science. Its bachelor’s programs in biology and environmental sciences run for three years and comprise 180 higher education credits, while its master’s programs usually run for two years and comprise 120 higher education credits. The department studies living organisms and the processes that control them, as well as the relationship between humans and nature.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Gothenburg Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Lokesh Pawar
MSc in Marine Biological Resources (IMBRSea)
Third-semester study: Ocean Literacy | He completed his Ocean Literacy semester at Gothenburg within the joint marine biological resources master’s. He reports that instruction remained in English across his program’s university placements, making academic transitions smoother. | — |
6. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, known as SLU, offers biology within an academic environment focused on living systems, natural resources, and sustainability. Its Biology and Environmental Science bachelor’s program is based in Uppsala, Sweden. Graduate biological study also uses expertise and teaching resources from campuses including Ultuna and Alnarp.
The Swedish-taught Biology and Environmental Science bachelor’s program requires 180 credits. Students specialize in biology or environmental science, with the biology route leading to a Bachelor of Science with a major in Biology. Teaching combines lectures, excursions, and practical exercises. Shared coursework connects biological knowledge with soil and environmental questions, while the chosen specialization determines the degree’s main field.
The English-taught Plant Biology for Sustainable Production master’s requires 120 credits over two years and awards an MSc in Biology. Students study plant genetics and physiology before specializing in plant breeding and protection or interactions involving cultivated plants. An independent biology project forms part of the degree. SLU also provides doctoral education in plant biology, normally lasting four years, supported by training through the Research School in Organism Biology.
What Current Students / Alumni of Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Mary Motunrayo Ogunleye
MSc in Sustainable Forest and Nature Management (SUFONAMA)
Swedish study focus: Forestry Science
Joined the joint program in 2021 | At SLU, her forestry studies included biodiversity conservation alongside forest management and modelling. She reports English-medium instruction and no significant academic language barriers during her Swedish studies. | Looking back on the joint program, she wished she had pursued more internships to gain practical experience in different biomes and forest management systems. |
7. KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Situated in the Swedish capital, the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm was established in 1827. KTH was ranked 78th worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It offers more than 60 master’s programs taught in English.
For students interested in biology-related fields, KTH offers biotechnology-focused pathways rather than a standalone biology degree program. Its master’s options in biotechnology include Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, Medical Biotechnology, and Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics. At the doctoral level, the School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health offers a doctoral program in Biotechnology. KTH’s Theoretical Chemistry and Biology unit belongs to the Department of Chemistry and conducts research in areas including quantum molecular-modeling software, energy conversion, and light-matter interactions.
8. University of Skövde
The University of Skövde offers biology-related education through its School of Bioscience in Skövde, Sweden. Its programs connect molecular biology with biotechnology, infection biology, ecology, and computational methods. Students can choose specialized biological pathways at undergraduate and master’s levels, with practical laboratory work forming an important part of several curricula.
The English-taught Molecular Biodesign bachelor’s program requires 180 credits over three years and leads to a Bachelor of Science. Initial study includes cell biology, evolution, genetics, chemistry, microbiology, and bioinformatics. Later coursework develops molecular methods and biomolecular design skills. Students complete a practical molecular biodesign project, followed by an experimental bioscience degree project during the final semester.
Master’s options include the one-year, 60-credit Infection Biology program and the two-year Molecular Ecology program. Infection Biology combines immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, and cell biology with experimental methods and a degree project. Molecular Ecology incorporates fieldwork, laboratory techniques, bioinformatics, and biostatistics, concluding with a 45-credit project in systems biology focused on molecular ecology. A separately identified Biology doctorate was not verified.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Skövde Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Biology Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Aydan Mammadova
MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience: Mind and Brain | She reports that her classes in Cognitive Neuroscience: Mind and Brain are conducted in English. | — |
We hope that this article on the best universities to study biology in Sweden was helpful. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
