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Summer School for Sustainability
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Summer School for Sustainability

The Summer School for Sustainability is a chance to take action on sustainability and deepen your understanding of global challenges and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Join an international cohort of like-minded people for five inspirational weeks and get the chance to visit the beautiful city of Gothenburg.

The Summer School is paused

The Summer School for Sustainability will not be offered in 2025. Information about a possible continuation after 2025 will be announced here.

The Summer School offers a programme of courses and activities to create synergy around sustainable solutions and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration.

The courses are open for students from our partner universities and for Swedish and international students who are eligible to apply for courses through the Swedish national system antagning.se or universityadmissions.se. You find information about how and when to apply as an exchange student from our partner universities below.

You will be able to get accepted for one 7,5 credits (ECTS) course.

Students on the stairs. Summer School of Sustainability 2022
Photo: Nathalie Greppi

Location

Summer School for Sustainability is set in Gothenburg, a vibrant summer city on the west coast, and housed in one of our modern teaching complexes right in the city centre. Just a few paces away from the classroom you’ll find restaurants and pubs, shops, parks and entertainment. The Summer School building offers spacious and technologically equipped classrooms as well as areas for reading, group work and a self-catered café area with microwaves. Surrounding forest areas and the ocean is just a bike ride or tram ride away.

Courses

The courses offered are suitable for all levels and will focus on the issues relating to the Sustainable Development Goals. You will be taught by our experienced course leaders through an interactive, academic programme consisting of weekly lectures and seminars on contemporary sustainability issues to develop and inspire you. Through group work, assignments and field trips, you and your classmates will be able to hone your knowledge of sustainability challenges within your own academic discipline as well as gain the skills necessary to contribute to Agenda 2030.

All courses are at bachelor's level and taught in English.

You will receive a Transcript of Records when the course is completed.

These are the courses that were offered 2024:

Students - selfie
Photo: Nathalie Greppi

Social and extra-curricular activities

The summer school is a fantastic opportunity to meet people from all over the world. Alongside your courses, you will be offered to take part in an extensive programme with guest lectures, interdisciplinary seminars, site visits, and practical workshops. Our social programme will include a welcome and farewell ceremony as well as day trips and social activities, allowing you to experience Swedish culture and sustainability initiatives. Aside from organised trips, a self-guide to Gothenburg will let you explore all that the city and surroundings have to offer in your own pace. Gothenburg is a great city to be a student and you will find a broad variety of eco-stores, vegan cafés and second hand shops to explore. The natural surroundings of the city can be easily reached by bike or tram, and offer great opportunities for hiking, paddling and other outdoor activities. If you are coming to us from abroad - don't forget to try all Swedes favourite summer activity: swimming in the lakes and ocean.

How to apply

The application is closed.

Tuition fee

The courses are free of charge for all students nominated by our partner universities and for non-fee paying students from Swedish universities.

Please note that if you are a non-partner university student coming to us from overseas or a fee-paying student already in Sweden, you will be obliged to pay tuition fee for the Summer School courses. Read more about tuition fees.

Accommodation

Accommodation is only provided to students nominated by our partner universities, and fee-paying students. If eligible, you are guaranteed self-catered accommodation in one of our centrally located student housing complexes. The housing area is within biking distance of the city centre and close to supermarkets, tram- and bus stops, and recreation areas.

Rent can vary depending on the kind of accommodation you apply for, and falls within the range of 5000 to 7500 SEK for the entire period. More information about housing will be sent to admitted students.

If you need to find housing on your own, you can find some useful information here: Housing

Arrival and pick-up service

International students travelling to Gothenburg for the Summer School will be offered an arrival and pick-up service.

Students participating in Summer School for Sustainability 2023
Photo: Hanna Glad
Logo Summer School for Sustainability

University of Gothenburg and sustainability

University of Gothenburg is at the forefront of sustainability work in teaching and research, and Gothenburg has been appointed the most sustainable city in the world for seven years in a row by the Global Destination Sustainability Index.

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Hear our students on the day of arrival

In the films below you can see interviews with three of the Summer School Students, during their first day in Gothenburg.

Navigate to video: Abigail Kimmel from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Video (2:58)
Abigail Kimmel from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Navigate to video: Pilar Sanchez-Teran
Video (3:11)
Pilar Sanchez-Teran
Navigate to video: Beata Biskupicova, Kolding Design School, Denmark
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Beata Biskupicova, Kolding Design School, Denmark