It is official – Skövde has been named Student City of the Year 2025! The award goes to Skövde, among other things, for a nice welcome of new students, the contact students have with business and the public sector, and the increased availability of student housing.
The Swedish National Union of Students (SFS) presents the Student City of the Year award annually, to a city that excels in its work to create a good study and living environment for students. This year, the prestigious award goes to Skövde. Rasmus Lindstedt, the chairman of SFS, led an award ceremony on-site on Monday.
"The jury carefully examined several student cities, but one thing that stood out during our visit in Skövde and at the University of Skövde was the welcoming of new students. The guidance that students can receive on everything outside of their studies, such as housing, healthcare, and part-time jobs, provides students with an added sense of security as they begin their studies," he says.
“It feels great! It is also proof that our work has a positive impact on our students and that our joint working method is, and has been, successful,” says Melissa Ferm, chairman of the Student Union in Skövde.
In the justification, SFS places particular emphasis on three areas:
- The welcoming of new students, both Swedish and international, where the University, the municipality and the Student Union have a strong collaboration to integrate the new students into both social and academic life
- The availability of student housing, which has improved in Skövde, which has climbed to yellow in the SFS Housing Report after nine years of red marking.
- All the contact surfaces that are created between students and business in Skövde, including the career fair Framtid (Future) and Sweden Game Arena.
“This is a fantastic confirmation of the work to create an attractive and inclusive environment for our students. We are proud to be able to offer a city where students thrive and can develop both academically and socially. Students are important in creating a dynamic and attractive environment in Skövde,” says Theres Sahlström, Chairman of the Municipal Board in Skövde.
“Becoming Student City of the Year is a nice award and confirmation that our students not only receive a good education, but that they also have the opportunity to develop in dimensions outside of their studies. The fact that we can offer this is due to the well-functioning cooperation between the Municipality, the Student Union and the University, with the students' best interests always at heart,” says Muriel Beser Hugosson, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Skövde.
The application for Student City of the Year was written jointly by the University of Skövde, Skövde Municipality and the Student Union of Skövde.
