About the faculty
The Faculty of science and technology at Umeå University has around 5000 registered students, 300 doctoral students and a very strong research environment. The departments and three institutes under the umbrella of this faculty, assemble both education and research in the areas of chemistry, physics, biology, computer science, mathematics, teachers education, architecture and design.
Research excellence
In order to compete and excel in the national and international arena, a great deal of focus and priority is being laid on four strong research environments: biological chemistry, ecosystem dynamics, mathematics education and plant and forest biotechnology. There is also prominent research done in the areas of applied IT, sustainable development and physics. The applied research very often develops in close collaboration with industry like the forestry industry and the chemical technology related industry here in Norrland, and IT companies like Tieto Enator, IBM and Microsoft.
Education for the future
Proximity to research, good pedagogy and relaxed atmosphere are the hallmarks of the faculty?s education. The faculty offers beginners programs for budding engineers, designers, architects, natural science candidates and teachers. The master?s programs are offered in English for those students who need to complement their bachelor?s degree. As many as around 300 international students, a majority of them coming from Germany and India, have chosen to study industrial design, biological sciences or technology relates courses at Umeå University. The faculty is also highly experienced in conducting distance education and internet based courses with the help of very modern web based technology.
Three Institutes
The faculty comprises of three major Institutes: The Institute of Technology, Institute of Design, and the School of Architecture. Since its foundations were laid 10 years ago, the Institute of Technology has worked for modern education methods, clear and simple ways for collaboration and for strong research in technical sciences. The Institute of Design with its location alongside the Umeå river, has been declared to have one of the best educational programmes in the area of industrial design, by the magazine Business Week. Very recently the Institute of Design was awarded recognition as Centre of Excellence in Higher Education. The faculty now also hosts the School of Architecture with its newly started degree in Architecture with a goal to achieve international reputation and recognition.
