At the end of February 2020, Lund University formed the Lund University Crisis Management Group to continuously monitor the situation concerning the coronavirus (Covid-19). The University’s Crisis Management Group is currently having daily meetings to manage overall issues connected with the virus outbreak. The University is in consultation with regional authorities, such as the region’s Centre for Communicable Disease Control, and is following updates from the Swedish Government, the Swedish Public Health Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant authorities. 

The risks in society related to the coronavirus are constantly changing, as the spread of the virus goes through different stages globally, in Europe and in Sweden. Lund University is following the Government’s and Public Health Authority’s recommendations regarding measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, as they are announced. 

In order to ensure a safe workplace and study environment for employees and students, and to help minimise the possible spread of infection, the University has so far decided: 

• that teaching and assessment of students’ performance until further notice are to be conducted remotely, unless there are special reasons. The vice-chancellor delegates to the dean of each faculty decision-making powers regarding whether or not there are special reasons in specific cases. 
• to permit changes in approved course and programme syllabi regarding the spring semester of 2020 concerning the forms of assessment of the students’ performance and for teaching to be conducted using digital solutions in those cases where it is possible to retain the quality of the course or programme. The decision on changes is made by the officer who made the decision on the course or programme syllabus in question. The decision is to be documented and the reason for the change is to be stated.
• to give the faculty boards the right to decide on an extension of the spring semester to the extent necessary for the completion of each programme. Any extension is to last no longer than until 30 August 2020 (the day before the autumn semester starts).
• to cancel all education components abroad that have yet to start, up to and including 30 June. This also applies to education for incoming international students this spring that has yet to start.
• until further notice to only authorise domestic business travel that after consultation with the line manager is deemed to be necessary. The Swedish Public Health Agency’s recommendations are to be observed for such trips.
• until further notice not to authorise any business trips abroad. This also applies to travel within the framework of education. This applies for as long as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD) advises against non-essential travel to all countries.
• that all international visits are to be cancelled until further notice.
• that, as far as possible, meetings, conferences or other gatherings are to be conducted remotely using digital tools. In cases where physical meetings are conducted, the rules and recommendations of the Swedish Public Health Agency to reduce the spread of infection are to be observed. Meetings, conferences or other gatherings are never to be organised with more than 50 participants. This applies to all activities at the University, i.e. education, research, external engagement and administration. It applies to gatherings of the University’s employees and students as well as invited guests.
• that staff should work from home to the extent that the line manager deems is possible when taking activities and the work environment into account.

Last updated 14 April 2020.

Staff and current students at Lund University are receiving regular updates about new management decisions, government recommendations and links to relevant authorities through the Staff Pages at the Lund University website. Current students and partner universities have also received updates through emails from the University. 

As a major public research university with a highly international profile, the University takes a heightened approach when following recommendations and adopting guidelines from the Government and relevant authorities. Lund University is also working proactively with other government agencies to answer questions and find solutions to long-term concerns around any issues relevant to our international students, staff and partners that may have arisen due to the quick changes in Sweden and in the world around us.

Admission results for autumn 2020 studies will be announced from April 2020 and onwards for applicants to Lund University’s many international degree programmes and to exchange studies.

We would hope that these students look forward to their future studies at Lund University with excitement and great anticipation. However, we understand that there will be many questions and concerns to address related to the spread of the coronavirus, travel restrictions, health care and general safety. Lund University is well prepared to address these concerns systematically and to provide answers to the best of our ability during these rapidly-changing times. We will be publishing an FAQ for admitted students on our website to be continuously updated during the spring and summer. For other questions and concerns, please see the links and contact information below.

Lund University is here to support our current, former and future students from around the world, our staff and partners, as well as the society around us. Our vision to understand, explain and improve the world and the human condition will continue to guide us in the decisions and work that lie ahead. We will work in solidarity with our global community to solve the challenges that arise. For updates on the situation here in Lund, in Sweden and globally:

• The latest information about the coronavirus – WHO website
• The latest information from European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
• Frequently Asked questions – Swedish Public Health Agency website
• Radio Sweden for Swedish news in English
• FAQs for prospective/newly admitted international students (exchange and degree)
   

Contact information

Prospective Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students, please ask your questions here

Prospective exchange students, please contact the international office at your home university. For general questions regarding exchange studies at Lund University, contact studentreception [at] lu [dot] se (studentreception[at]lu[dot]se) 

More Lund University contact details can be found here: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/about/contact-us

Current international students and staff at Lund University can find updated information on the Lund University Staff Pages