Luleå University of Technology has received approval from the Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) to issue psychology degrees, according to multiple reports. The first students of the five-year professional program will be welcomed in autumn 2025. The university is also establishing a new artistic institution, expected to be operational by January 1, 2027, which will bring together approximately 90 employees and 900 full-year students across campuses in Luleå and Piteå.
Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn, rector at Luleå University of Technology, said the university is very happy to soon be able to train psychologists, noting that mental illness is a growing societal problem and the shortage of psychologists worsens the situation. She said the university looks forward to contributing to strengthening competence in both the country and the region, and that it is positive for the university and its other educations to further broaden the educational offering.
The psychology program will provide 35 new study places each autumn and includes 300 higher education credits. As part of the program, the university will open a psychology clinic where students, supervised by licensed psychologists and psychotherapists, can practice their skills. The clinic will accept clients with mild to moderate mental health issues and will also be used for research. The program emphasizes digital working methods, such as remote treatment via video and internet platforms. After completing studies and one year of practical service as a psychologist, students can apply for licensure from the National Board of Health and Welfare.
Studying to become a psychologist means getting the opportunity to actually make the world a little better by being able to help others. Now we are building Sweden's most modern psychology program in Luleå. We have had a fantastic collaboration between different actors in Norrbotten, with short decision paths and a positive spirit.
Anna Stigsdotter Neely, professor of psychology at the university, said several universities with psychology educations have seen a positive trend where students stay in the region after graduation and that they hope to see a similar development. Pia Näsvall, healthcare director at Region Norrbotten, said the program means a lot for healthcare, as Norrbotten residents who want to become psychologists can finally train at home, and that they attract students from other parts of the country who hopefully can consider working in the region after education. Jessica Körning-Ljungberg, professor and subject representative in psychology, said studying to become a psychologist means getting the opportunity to make the world a little better by helping others, and that they are building Sweden's most modern psychology program in Luleå with fantastic collaboration between different actors in Norrbotten.
The new artistic institution will include both artistic and artistic-technical research. It brings together four educational and research subjects: musical performance, scenic production, design, and architecture. Bergvall-Kåreborn said the university wants to invest in the arts and create environments where researchers and students from different subject areas work together in new constellations. She noted that where the engineer often seeks precision and function, the artist can broaden perspectives and challenge assumptions that affect solutions to complex research problems. Regarding the Piteå campus, she said that since they have closed down educations that did not work, they must look at new educations there because the campus needs to become bigger and stronger.
The theater school at Luleå University of Technology had 600 applicants for only ten places, making it one of Sweden's most difficult-to-access educations.