Konstfack university of arts, crafts and design

Konstfack is Sweden's largest and oldest university college of fine arts, founded in 1844. Each year, around 900 students participate in bachelor, master and doctoral studies, teacher training and free-standing courses at the school. Many of them come from other parts of the world, as do many of our teachers. This internationalisation allows for exchange of knowledge and promotes understanding between countries, cultures and religions. It also prepares you as a student for the world as a future arena and place of work. Konstfack is best in Sweden! We are not alone in thinking this. The international rankings company QS Top Universities agreed when it placed us at the top of its 2016 list of fine arts universities in Sweden. We are second best in the Nordic countries, number 11 in Europe and number 41 in the world. Hurrah!

Here at Sweden's largest fine arts university college, you can develop into and inhabit those obvious roles that stem from our programmes – artist, designer, interior architect, graphic designer, illustrator, teacher as well as a craftsperson in a range of materials – such as a jewellery designer. And of course there are a number of paths to take within the design field, from product and furniture design to designing services. But our alumni also include actors, directors, game designers, fashion designers, communications officers, project managers and supervisors. A degree from Konstfack is a creative, academic, solid foundation on which you can stand, dig deeper into and develop from. An education which allows you to participate in contemporary social debate by developing attitudes, environments, products and services in private as well as public spaces.

At Konstfack we value critical thinking and an empathic approach and we therefore focus as much on why a person seeks us out as we do on what they already know. Our Vice-Chancellor Maria Lantz is keen to emphasise that "Konstfack is a school for dreamers, doubters, reformists, believers, activists, utopists, individuals, dystopists, entrepreneurs, ramblers and other seekers." Konstfack also has some of Europe's best, most well-equipped workshops. Computer rooms, wood and metal workshops, screen printing studios, a weaving room, textile printing, colour workshop, graphical workshop, photo and TV studio, glass works, a ceramics workshop and studios for sculpture and painting. Konstfack's workshops can make anything possible! The school also has one of Sweden's most comprehensive art and design libraries.

The research at Konstfack is characterised by the interaction of artistic and practical standpoints with scientific perspectives. An overarching aim is that Konstfack's research should contribute to a sustainable future. At Konstfack research is conducted within the areas of design, arts, crafts, visual communication and arts education. The research aims to radically rethink the relationship individual-community-environment, and ultimately to contribute to a more sustainable society. The research should bring new perspectives and suggest sustainable solutions for the future. In a unique way, Konstfack combines highly specialized workshops with a lively intellectual environment. The environment presents unique conditions for research, and the research at Konstfack combines the practices of doing and creating with scientific perspectives.

Konstfack will create new knowledge and be a national and international trendsetter in art education and research, as well as artistic subject and professional development. We offer particularly promising and motivated students and researchers in the areas of art, design, fine craftsmanship and art teacher education an international, multidisciplinary research environment. Our programmes offer a wide selection of artistic methods as well as critical dialogue. High quality, humanism, sustainable development and high demands for creative ability characterise Konstfack's study programmes and research.

After completing first, second and third-cycle programmes, students will have:

• The skills and knowledge required to establish themselves in their professions
• Proficiency in design work and communication, as well as the ability to think and work beyond the limits of their particular disciplines
• Critical thinking ability, courage, problem-solving skills and leadership capacity
• Solid knowledge of the theory and history of art, design, fine craftsmanship and art teacher education
• A broad perspective on contemporary cultural and social currents
• The knowledge required to conduct focused projects concerning issues of diversity and sustainable development
• The ability to participate