Welcome to Stockholm

A city on the world stage

The largest city in Scandinavia, Stockholm is a bustling and sprawling leader in sustainability, research, activism, technology, and culture.

Built as a series of islands, the city is a perfect blend of water, nature, and metropolitan spaces. Some of the most influential figures in the world have called this city home, from Alfred Nobel to Greta Thunberg, ABBA to Avicii.

Learn more about this city and what makes it special, both to live and to learn in.

A history of progressive policies

Live in a city known for its long history of activism and progressive policies.

Stockholm has consistently led the charge on a wide variety of issues, from labor rights to gender and sexual equality, sustainability, education, and universal access to healthcare.

Long history of gender and sexual inclusivity

Sweden was among the first countries to legalize homosexuality in 1944. In 1972, it became the first country to allow people to legally change their gender.

You can explore Sweden’s history and live your own life in a country that ranks as one of the most gender equal countries today.

Early on sustainability

In 1972, Stockholm hosted the first-ever United Nations conference on the environment, which became the foundation for modern global environmental governance.

Since then, Sweden has continued to be a major home for sustainable efforts and activism.

Explore courses on sustainability and Sweden’s role in European politics.

Hen, the Swedish gender-neutral pronoun

Originally coined in the 1960’s, hen is a gender-neutral pronoun that gained official recognition and was added to the Swedish dictionary in 2015.

Hen is just one way that Swedish culture works to include various identities, backgrounds, and personal preferences.

You can explore more of Sweden’s LGBTQIA+ support through courses on gender studies and human rights.

Learning through Swedish culture: Vikings, hiking, and fika

You probably already know more Swedish culture than you think; take the next step by living in it.

There are plenty of well-known Swedish names, like actors Stellan Skarsgaard and Ingrid Bergman; sports stars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Björn Bjorg, and musicians including ABBA, Robyn, Avicii, and Zara Larsson.

Or maybe you’re more familiar with IKEA, Swedish meatballs, and Vikings as they are portrayed in modern shows and films.

But there’s so much more to discover by living in Stockholm and learning from the culture around you. You can visit real historical sites behind the Viking myths, learn uniquely Swedish terms like fika and lagom, practice your language skills, and dive deeper into the biggest cultural exporter of Scandinavia.

Footsteps of the Vikings

Vikings are so common in pop culture today, we might forget that these were real, complex societies who are still being debated today. In Stockholm, you can explore that history up close.

Just a short ride from Stockholm, the city of Uppsala was home to important kings even before the Viking Age and remained a seat of power. You can visit the site to see several royal grave mounds and other historic sites.

View courses on vikings and Swedish history.

ABBA, Avicii, Max Martin, Zara Larsson, and Swedish pop music dominance

Whether you know it or not, Stockholm has been home to the creators of some of your favorite music. No wonder Spotify was also born here.

You can study the songwriting and production that makes Swedish pop music iconic, or enjoy the history, visit the ABBA museum, and catch a local concert.

See courses around Swedish music and culture.

Allemansrätten – the right to access nature

Swedes hold a deep cultural connection to nature. The right to freely access nature is protected by Swedish law and Stockholmers exercise it often, going on hikes, swims, skiing, or kayaking.

Sweden is a huge country with loads of nature for you to explore, from lake-filled forests and islands along the archipelago, to Arctic tundra, mountains, and even the northern lights.

Learn more about the Outdoor LLC and how you can explore nature through your housing.

A European hub for technology, business, and engineering

Stockholm is a major European hub for finance, technology, and innovation.

The city is home to tech unicorns and major industry players like Spotify, Klarna (the buy-now, pay-later finance app), and game developers like King and Mojang, known for Candy Crush and Minecraft respectively.

It also has renowned research institutions, hubs of investment and finance, and huge companies like H&M, Ikea, and Volvo.

All of it comes together to give Stockholm an exciting, big-city atmosphere.

See all engineering, computer science, and business courses.

Startup hub

Stockholm is a vibrant center for technology companies and startups, meaning it also attracts some of the best talent from around Europe to work here.

You can learn from professionals working in the industry and visit tech companies ranging from startups to giants like Spotify.

Local university partnerships

DIS Stockholm partners with local world-class research institutions like the KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Karolinska Institutet, giving you access to these leaders in the fields of computer science, engineering, and biotechnology.