The City of Gothenburg

Gothenburg, Sweden’s second largest city with nearly 500,000 inhabitants, is situated on the west coast of Sweden. The city is roughly equidistant from the Scandinavian capitals Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo, and is at the very centre of northern Europe.

The city was founded in 1621 on a Dutch model by the warrior king Gustavus Adolphus whose aim was to open up a window to the rest of the world. Today the city has developed into a centre for cultural events in the heart of Scandinavia. Gothenburg is characterised by its proximity to the sea. The many islands in the archipelago are popular summerholiday destinations. The presence of water has also influenced University of Gothenburg, which  has a strong marine profile. Roughly 80 % of all the marine research in Sweden is carried out here.

Gothenburg is an important conference venue and hosts a large number of international events: in February every year the "Göteborg Film Festival" takes place, in the summer the city stages Gothia Cup, the largest football tournament in the world for young people, and in the autumn there is the "Göteborg International Book Fair".

The largest shopping centre in the Nordic countries is in Gothenburg, and there are also many small shops and boutiques. For people interested in culture Gothenburg has a lot to offer. There is an opera house, a concert hall and an art museum with predominantly Nordic art. The Botanical Gardens are one of the most prominent in the world, and Liseberg is the largest amusement park in Scandinavia.

There are also several museums, including a new Museum of World Culture. Gothenburg is a large city with a small town atmosphere. Most cultural institutions, shops and hotels are within walking distance.

Gothenburg also has a wide choice of culture, sport, open spaces, trendy cafés and exciting boutiques. Many of the departments of the University are very centrally located, with good access to all the facets of city life.