Stockholm University of the Arts

Stockholm University of the Arts (SKH) provides education and conducts research in circus, dance, film, media, opera, and theatre. Through pioneering education and research, we empower the arts and their ability to meet society’s challenges. SKH’s students, teachers and researchers together contribute to a university environment that dives deeply into specific art practices while encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration.

Read about our visions and goals

One of Stockholm's oldest higher education institutions…

At the end of the 18th century, king Gustav III established academies for opera singers and actors, that in the 19th century were brought together under the roof of the Royal Theatre in Stockholm. Combined with new impulses and organisations that have emerged over the years, these programmes form the start of what has become SKH today. Interwoven in our history are many historic educational environments that have played an important role in Stockholm's cultural life.

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…and one of the youngest

SKH, as it exists today, was established in 2014. The stated goal was to create a higher education institution large enough to support an ambitious artistic research environment, where education and research could interact and support each other. The former Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts, the University College of Opera and the School of Dance and Circus merged under a single organisation – thus once and for all reuniting the training academies started 250 years ago!

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A unique research environment

SKH is at the forefront of artistic research in Sweden, and in 2016 became the first artistic research institution in Sweden to start admitting doctoral students. Research is closely woven into everything done here. There are currently over 20 doctoral students, over 50 ongoing research projects, several recurring research conferences and an academic journal in VIS – Nordic Journal for Artistic Research.

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Programmes of excellence and breadth

Being admitted to a study programme at SKH should always be special. Many programmes are only available here nationally, and some are unique in the whole world – narrow specialist programmes on the international cutting edge, bachelor's programmes with student productions embedded in the heart of the arts world, master's programmes that challenge professional practices in new ways. There are currently around 500 students at SKH.

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Towards the future of the arts

SKH graduates enter an arts world that is constantly changing, where old truths are questioned and new methods are required to deal with reality. For SKH, it is important to adapt our education for the present and the future – to make them more flexible and allow students to take on a wide range of expressions, tools and art forms, supported by research. With this goal in mind, SKH is aiming to move into a single, joint building from 2030, where all art forms are invited to both further specialise and collaborate.