Ersta Sk?ndal University College is dedicated to studies in the fields of social work, nursing and health care, psychotherapy, theology and church music with an explicit ethical and diaconal orientation. The University College was founded on January 1st, 1998 through the merger of the undergraduate, post-graduate and research programmes of the Ersta Society for Diaconal Work and The Stora Sk?ndal Foundation. On October 5th, 2010 Br?cke Diakoni became a new part owner. The University College has three campuses, one at Ersta, one at Stora Sk?ndal and one at Br?cke in Gothenburg, with a total of approximately 1500 students. The university college’s historical background has resulted in human health, welfare and vulnerability being the focus of study and this explains how research fields such as civil society studies, palliative care and care ethics have developed and given the university 。