Nearly one in five students reports discrimination at Swedish universities

Nearly one in five students responding to a survey of Swedish higher education said they had experienced discrimination, but only a small fraction reported it to their university.

The Swedish Council for Higher Education, UHR, published the findings on Wednesday. In the Eurostudent 9 survey, 19 per cent reported discrimination linked to at least one of Sweden’s seven legally protected grounds. Gender, ethnicity and age were the most commonly cited.

Women reported discrimination more often than men. Students with a foreign background, a disability or a gender identity other than woman or man were also among the groups reporting higher levels.

More than a third of respondents belonging to a Swedish national minority said they had experienced discrimination. Written responses also described experiences during placements and practical training.

These are students’ reported experiences, rather than legal findings against particular institutions. Only six per cent of those who felt discriminated against had reported it to their institution, and many of those who did were dissatisfied with its handling. UHR called for clear reporting procedures and better information about where students can turn.

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