Now it's official - Skövde has been named Student City of the Year 2025! The award goes to Skövde for, among other things, a great welcome for 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) has named Skövde Student City of the Year 2025. Rasmus Lindstedt, SFS chairman, led an awards ceremony on site on Monday:
– The jury has looked closely at several student cities, but one thing that stood out when we visited Skövde was the welcome of new students. The guidance that students can receive about everything outside of their studies, such as accommodation, care and extra jobs, gives students extra security when they start their studies.
– 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, chairwoman of the Student Union in Skövde.
In its justification, SFS highlights three areas in particular:
- Welcoming 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 has improved in Skövde, which has climbed to yellow in the SFS housing report after nine years of being marked red.
- All the contact surfaces that are created between students and business in Skövde, including through the career fair Framtid 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, Chair of the Municipal Executive Board in Skövde.
– Becoming the 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 and that we always have the best interests of the students in mind, says Muriel Beser Hugosson, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Skövde.
The Student City of the Year is chosen by the Swedish National Union of Students. The award goes to a city that excels in its work to create a good study and living environment for students. The application for Student City of the Year was written jointly by the University of Skövde, the Municipality of Skövde and the Student Union of Skövde.