Did You Know That ... ?
Quick facts about Umeå University
- Umeå University was founded in 1965 and is the fifth oldest university in Sweden.
- Umeå University has 36,700 registered students taught and aided by over 4,200 teachers and supporting staff.
- Campus Umeå is the size of 28 football fields and is located within walking distance of downtown Umeå.
- Umeå University receives almost 500 exchange students from over 30 countries every year.
- Over 40 nationalities are represented among students and staff.
- The University Library has over 900,000 physical visitors and 970,000 web visitors per year. There are 1.5 million books and 28,000 periodicals (including electronic) available in 35,000 shelf metres.
- Culture on Campus arranges free cultural events open to everyone at Umeå University.
- The Universum building in the centre of campus includes shopping, restaurants, pubs, and the Aula Nordica concert hall which has a seating capacity of 1,000.
- Umeå University has designated 14 strong research environments of high international quality.
- Umeå Plant Science Centre has been named the best research environment for young bioscientists outside the United States.
- The world’s largest brännboll (similar to rounders) tournament is played in Umeå every May.
- IKSU Sport, one of Europe’s largest exercise facilities, has approximately 23,000 visitors per week and offers a wide selection of activities.
- Umeå is the largest city in northern Sweden and its 116,000 inhabitants have a medium age of 38.
- Umeå is known as the “City of Birches”. In 1888, a large fire destroyed much of the city, so birch trees were planted to protect against the spreading of future fires.
- Umeå will be the European Capital of Culture in 2014.
- Most of Umeå’s inhabitants were not born in this city and together they speak approximately 52 languages.
- Umeå is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Sweden.
- Umeå has over 180 kilometres of bicycle tracks, making bicycle the transportation of choice for most students, faculty and staff.
- Umeå is situated in the county with the lowest crime rate in Sweden.
