Engineering education in Sweden has a very long history. The first schools were started in the 17th century. These were mostly focused on mining and metallurgy, the first traces on industry in the country.
By the beginning of the 19th century, two science based schools of engineering were founded. These were the Royal Institute of Technology and Chalmers University of Technology, which have had a considerable impact on Swedish industry and they are still the two most important engineering institutions in Sweden. Companies like Electrolux, Ericsson, Asea (one of the constituent parts of ABB), SKF and Volvo, not to mention mining industries, pulp & paper companies and ship yards, all have their roots in the advanced engineering education at various times throughout the last 200 years.
Today there are seven institutions of higher education that offer education programmes leading to the degree "civilingenjor", the degree recognised by industry and academia as equivalent to a Master of Science degree. These programmes are all connected to advance research and provide the graduates with an analytical approach to engineering problems. Some 5000 new students are admitted each year. The population of Sweden has just passed 9 million.
The two old universities of technology and the five faculties of engineering at Swedish universities have research profiles and engineering curricula which are strongly linked to basic sciences. There has been a continuous debate on whether the education and research should be more adjusted to immediate industrial needs. Recent development has resulted in the establishment of several engineering colleges throughout the country. These colleges focus on applied engineering and they provide programmes of three years duration. Today there are some 20 institutions offering this kind of programme in which more than 6000 students start each year.
Foreign students may be admitted to engineering programmes in Sweden, but for most of these students the language is an obstacle. Therefore, programmes in English are introduced at some institutions, e.g. the international Master’s programmes at Chalmers University of Technology, the Royal Institute of Technology and the University of Linköping. An increasing number of students from other countries also participate in the education as a part of various exchange activities and there is an international exchange of researchers and teachers. Engineering education and research in Sweden is not only keeping up with international standards, it is also becoming more accessible to students from abroad. Foreign scholars have always found their ways to Swedish institutions of higher education and research.
