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Umeå University top-ranked among world’s best young universities

Press release -

Umeå University top-ranked among world’s best young universities

Two respected international ranking systems have placed Umeå University among the world’s best under the age of 50 years, at #29 and #34. Umeå University is also the highest ranked institution in Sweden and the Nordic countries. These lists focus on young universities with great potential for the future.

"It is fantastic that not just one, but two ranking systems placed us first Sweden and the Nordic region among young universities," says Lena Gustafsson, Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University. "Furthermore, we are well placed in the total world university rankings."

The British weekly magazine Times Higher Education (THE) ranked Umeå University 29th in the world. The highly respected publication has annually published a world rankling list of universities since 2004. Since last year, they have introduced a new list of the world’s best 100 universities under the age of 50 years:Times Higher Education 100 Under 50.

“The traditional elite cannot afford to coast on centuries of history and tradition, or rely too heavily on reputation – there is a new breed of dynamic universities emerging quickly and visibly to challenge for their crowns,” says Phil Baty, editor of Times Higher Education rankings.

There are two other Swedish universities that were included in THE 100 under 50 list: The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) was ranked 33rd and Linköping University was ranked 51st. Umeå University has a close collaboration with SLU, and an alliance with Linköping University and the University of Tromso in Norway, which was ranked 56th. A total of eight universities in the Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland) made the top 100 list..

The list uses the same 13 performance indicators as the THE World University Rankings, but with a reduced weighting for subjective indicators of academic reputation. This year’s ranking only includes institutions founded in 1963 or later.

“These new figures are really exciting,” explains Phil Baty. “They disrupt the settled hierarchies and show that new powers in global higher education and research are emerging.”

The other global university ranking index – QS Top 50 under 50 – placed Umeå University at #34, making it the top-ranked institution of higher education in Sweden and the Nordic countries that qualified among the 50 that were established since 1963.

Last year, Umeå University was listed at #23 by Times Higher Education 100 Under 50 and #30 by QS Top 50 under 50. The competition was more intense this year. Umeå University dropped six places in THE’sranking list, although its overall score was higher than in 2012.

Read more:

Times Higher Education 100 under 50

QS Top 50 under 50


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Umeå University
Umeå University is one of Sweden's largest institutions of higher learning with over 36,000 students and 4,200 employees. We have a well-established international research profile and a broad range of study options. Our campus constitutes an inspiring environment that encourages interdisciplinary meetings - between students, researchers, teachers and external stakeholders. Through collaboration with other members of society, we contribute to the development and strengthen the quality of our research and education.

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General Press Inquiries

General Press Inquiries

Press contact Press Officer +46 90 786 50 89

Marie Oskarsson

Press contact Kommunikatör Lärarhögskolan, Umeå universitet 0909-786 69 47

Umeå University

Umeå University is one of Sweden's largest universities with over 37,000 students and 4,300 employees. The university is home to a wide range of education programmes and world-class research in a number of fields. Umeå University was also where the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 was discovered – a revolution in gene-technology that was awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Founded in 1965, Umeå University is characterised by tradition and stability as well as innovation and change. Education and research on a high international level contributes to new knowledge of global importance, inspired, among other things, by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The university houses creative and innovative people that take on societal challenges. Through long-term collaboration with organisations, trade and industry, and other universities, Umeå University continues to develop northern Sweden as a knowledge region.

The international atmosphere at the university and its unified campus encourages academic meetings, an exchange of ideas and interdisciplinary co-operation. The cohesive environment enables a strong sense of community and a dynamic and open culture in which students and staff rejoice in the success of others.

Campus Umeå and Umeå Arts Campus are only a stone's throw away from Umeå town centre and are situated next to one of Sweden's largest and most well-renowned university hospitals. The university also has campuses in the neighbouring towns Skellefteå and Örnsköldsvik.

At Umeå University, you will also find the highly-ranked Umeå Institute of Design, the environmentally certified Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics and the only architectural school with an artistic orientation – Umeå School of Architecture. The university also hosts a contemporary art museum Bildmuseet and Umeå's science centre – Curiosum. Umeå University is one of Sweden's five national sports universities and hosts an internationally recognised Arctic Research Centre.