University of Boras

University

Founded in 1977, Boras University has approximately 13,000 students and approximately 750 employees. Part of the university is the nationally and internationally renowned Swedish School of Textiles and the Swedish School of Library and Information Sciences, both of which run educational programs and research. Boras University is very popular because of its unique educational programs and attracts students from all regions of Sweden.4

 

University of Boras

The University of Boras attaches great importance to imparting knowledge and skills to students in order to qualify them specifically for the job market. The goal is to maintain the own set requirements of a qualitative education. To this end, the University maintains exchange and cooperation with external partners in the private and public sectors.5

The University of Boras offers courses of study and courses in the following areas:6

  • Library and Information Science
  • Behavioural and Education Sciences
  • Business and Informatics
  • Engineering
  • Fashion and Textile Studies
  • Health Sciences

Research is conducted in the following research areas:

  • Business and IT
  • Library and Information Science
  • Ressource Recovery
  • Pedagogical Work
  • Textiles and Fashion (design and general)
  • The Human Perspective in Care

The Faculty

A differentiation is made in three faculties:

  • Faculty of Caring Science, Work Life and Social Welfare.
  • Faculty of Textiles, Engineering and Business. Three of the six research fields of the university are located here:7
    • Business and IT
    • Resource Recovery
    • Textiles and Fashion
  • Faculty of Librarianship, Information, Education and IT.8

The goal of the faculties is to provide students with a high-quality education and to impart knowledge while maintaining the social relevance and global attractiveness of the teaching programs.9

Student life

Not only Boras, but Sweden itself promises a high quality of life, security and a nature-friendly environment for students. While temperatures can reach 30°C in summer, the cold winter is an attraction especially for tourists. For non-native speakers, the language is not a challenge either, as English is taught as a second language.10

 

Campus life

Due to the many international students, different cultures meet on campus. This makes the university a dynamic and lively place to learn. With its modern facilities in the city center, stores, restaurants, supermarkets and public transportation are within walking distance.11

 

City of Boras

Boras, with 100,000 inhabitants, is located in southwest Sweden, about 60 kilometers east of Gothenburg, the second largest city in Sweden. Boras is best known for its contribution to the textile industry and textile research, and its reputation as the sculpture capital of Sweden. Like the campus, the city is characterized by different cultures, which is not least reflected in its offer of food from all over the world. In addition, there are hiking opportunities along lakes and in forests not far away.12

 

Student experiences

Study period: Fall 2013/2014
Academic level: Master
Timur S.

„Peparation:
As the time for planning my semester abroad arrived, there wasn’t a big struggle about where to go: Sweden. […] Applying for the stay was rather easy due to the great support IS:link offers. 

Högskolan i Borås:
The university is pretty much centered within the city. It is modern (equipment, architecture, library), is famous for its textile school across Sweden’s boarders and in general a nice place to study at. I was attending three master courses in total: a Swedish language course, a course called ‘Trends in Informatics’ and one called ‘Business Design’. Compared to the courses back at my home university the difficulty level and the needed effort to get good grades were slightly lower. […]

Borås:
[…] Beside of a   good public transport system, a university, a cinema, many shopping areas (e.g. Knalleland), night clubs and bars, it even offers a zoo and is the hometown of the former Swedish football champion IF Elfsborg.
The weather is comparable to what one knows from western Germany and Göteborg as the second biggest town in Sweden with inhabitants is only 60 kilometers away (the Göteborg Landvetter airport is even nearer).

Being an Exchange Student:
Being an exchange student is pretty awesome. One gets to know many open-minded people   from all over the world, befriends with many of them and shares a good time. One gets in   touch with different cultures, tries new kinds of food and evolves as a person. Among those things that no exchange student   should miss are e.g. watching a game of the local football club, visiting the zoo, go partying in   X&Y on Thursdays, joining the ESN Sea Battle or the ESN Lapland trip and exploring the   beautiful country in general.


I was having a great time for the five months of my stay.[…] Apparently, I really enjoyed my stay. I’m happy with my decision for Borås and for the good friends I made and hopefully see regularly in the future.”

Study period: Fall 2012/2013
Academic level: Master
Julian S.

„ […]
During and throughout my stay in Sweden my openness and my curiosity to new and foreign cultures increased a lot. My desire to travel and to meet interesting people and explore something new in the world intensified as well.
Therefore I can recommend to everybody to be brave and take the chance to experience the time of your life and make good friends from all over the world. It’s an experience that nobody can take from you.

[…]

Högskolan i Borås:
The university of Borås is well known for their textile studies and on account of this you’ll probably meet a lot of students from the textile schools. I experienced the university as quite modern, clean and bright. […] The staff and teachers are all very cooperative and friendly and almost every lecture consists of group work that has to be done. The semester, which – apart from language courses – consists of around 3 or 4 courses, is separated into two segments. These “periods” will be finished with an exam or a written paper. 

Free time, Borås and travelling:
There’s enough free time to meet with your friends and explore Sweden. […] Borås itself will be more or less explored within two or three days when you’re guided. Visiting some places twice or more to see the sunny and snowy beauty is nice as well. Don’t forget the umbrella, it’s said that Borås is the rainiest city of Sweden ;-).
But still Borås has a lot to offer: a zoo, swimming pools, ice hockey, champion of the Swedish football league in 2012, sport centres, bowling centres, bars, discos, shopping, museums, lakes, and restaurants. Usually Thursday nights in Borås are reserved for going to the local disco X&Y. […]

[…] In total the time during my studies in Sweden was so far the best time of my life. I learned a lot about different people, their cultures and built important friendships all over the world. I started to think more global and I am less scared to face the opportunity to work abroad. […] Travelling made me more curious about exploring new parts of the world. […]"