Civil Engineering Schools and Programs in Sweden

Civil Engineering Studies in Sweden

Civil engineering in Sweden is taught mainly at universities of technology, either as a five-year professional engineering degree in Swedish or as a two-year master's programme in English. The second route is the realistic one for most international students. SpainExchange lists one Swedish school for this subject: Chalmers Tekniska Högskola (Chalmers University of Technology) in Gothenburg, founded in 1829. Chalmers has been a private university since 1994, owned by the Chalmers University of Technology Foundation, and teaches on the Johanneberg and Lindholmen campuses.

How civil engineering degrees are organised

Swedish higher education credits follow ECTS: a normal full-time workload is 30 credits per semester and 60 per academic year. Programmes in engineering can lead to a professional qualification, which most often takes five years of full-time study. At Chalmers the professional route is Samhällsbyggnadsteknik, civilingenjör (English name: Civil Engineering), a 300-credit, five-year programme with 140 places. Students first complete a bachelor's degree (kandidatexamen) and then continue in years 4 and 5 on one of Chalmers' master's programmes. Building technology takes up 28% of the content, mathematics 18%.

For the 2026-27 academic year Chalmers runs two English-taught master's programmes of 120 credits in the field: Structural Engineering and Building Technology, and Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering. For students starting in autumn 2027, Chalmers presents two new two-year MSc programmes in its Civil Engineering area:

• Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, with specialisations in Design and Assessment of Structures, Geostructures, and Solids and Structural Mechanics
• Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering, with specialisations in Transport Engineering, Water and Environmental Engineering, Fluid Mechanics and Water Systems, and Geotechnics and Engineering Geology

Project-based learning is central to both, often with input from consultancy firms and public agencies.

Admission and language

The five-year Samhällsbyggnadsteknik programme is taught in Swedish and English and is applied for through the national system. Beyond general entry requirements it asks for Swedish upper secondary Mathematics 4, Physics 2, Chemistry 1 and English 6 or equivalents; 81% of places are allocated on grades and 19% on the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test (högskoleprovet). For autumn 2026 the application deadline was 15 April 2026.

The master's programmes are taught in English. Structural and Geotechnical Engineering requires a bachelor's degree in civil, architectural, structural or geotechnical engineering or the equivalent, plus set credits in mathematics and structural subjects. For the autumn 2027 intake, applications open on 16 October 2026 and close on 15 January 2027. Chalmers also offers a free Swedish course, which helps with the job search later.

Fees, residence permit and costs

Citizens of the EU/EEA and Switzerland do not pay tuition fees. Students from other countries pay tuition fees and must pay them before applying for a residence permit; the application fee through the national portal is SEK 900, however many programmes you choose. According to Study in Sweden, technical and natural science programmes cost from SEK 140,000 to 185,000 per year; the exact fee is on each programme's page. Exchange students coming through an agreement with their home university are exempt from fees at Chalmers.

The Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) considers you finally admitted only once the fee is paid. Since 11 June 2026, students on a study permit may work up to 15 hours per week during term and must complete 37.5 credits in their first year to have the permit extended. Study in Sweden estimates living costs at around SEK 10,656 per month. The autumn semester begins at the end of August.

Careers

Chalmers lists foundations and tunnels, indoor climate, structural design, environmental and water engineering, sound and vibration, project management and traffic planning as typical fields for its civil engineers, in roles as consultant, contractor or client. Employers named by the university include the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket), the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning and consultancy and construction firms such as WSP, AFRY, Skanska, Peab and Sweco. Typical roles for infrastructure graduates include environmental engineer, geotechnical engineer, transport planner and climate adaptation specialist. A master's degree also gives access to doctoral studies.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study civil engineering in Sweden in English?

Yes, at master's level. Chalmers' civil engineering master's programmes are two years, 120 credits, and taught in English. The five-year civilingenjör programme is taught in Swedish and English.

How much does a civil engineering master's in Sweden cost?

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens pay no tuition fees. For other students, Study in Sweden gives SEK 140,000 to 185,000 per year for technical programmes, plus a SEK 900 application fee.

When can I apply for a master's programme starting in 2027?

For Chalmers' Structural and Geotechnical Engineering and Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering programmes, applications run from 16 October 2026 to 15 January 2027.

Which schools teach civil engineering in Sweden?

SpainExchange lists Chalmers Tekniska Högskola in Gothenburg for this subject.