Introductory Course in Effective Altruism
The Introductory Course in Effective Altruism (IKEA) is a five-week reading and discussion course built around one question: how can we help others the most?
Five weeks · about three hours per week · small groups · in English · free of charge
Applications for the autumn 2026 round close on Tuesday 8 September.
How the course works
Each week you read a curated selection of articles — about two hours of preparation — and then meet your group for a facilitated 90-minute discussion on campus. The readings are drawn from the EA Handbook and from the book Doing Good Better, which we lend to participants.
The aim is not to convince you of any particular conclusion. It is to give you the analytical tools used in effective altruism — comparing causes, expected value, reasoning under uncertainty — and to let you form your own view. People in effective altruism actively disagree about which problems matter most; the discussions are where the course earns its value.
The course starts in mid-September, shortly after applications close, and pauses during exam weeks.
Who the course is for
- Students from any programme, any year. You do not need to study at KTH — students from other Stockholm universities are also welcome.
- An interest in global problems. Poverty, pandemics, animal welfare, and risks from emerging technologies — you want to understand which problems matter most and why.
- A wish to make your work count. You would like your career, donations or time to make a real difference, informed by evidence.
- Around three hours per week. For five weeks. No prior knowledge of effective altruism is required.
Course content
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1
The Effectiveness Mindset
Why some ways of helping achieve far more than others, and how careful thinking multiplies impact.
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2
Radical Empathy & Evaluating Causes
Who merits moral concern, and how to compare problem areas. Includes a deep dive into a cause area of your choice, which you present to your group.
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3
Existential Risk & Longtermism
Risks to humanity's future, and the argument that we live in an unusually important period.
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4
Deep Dive: Existential Risks
A closer look at specific risks — from advanced AI and engineered pandemics to nuclear war — chosen by you.
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5
Reflection & Practice
The strongest criticisms of the ideas presented in the course, and what your own conclusions imply for your decisions and career.
Applications are open
The application takes a few minutes: who you are, what you study, and why you are interested. The number of places is limited by the number of groups we can run.
Deadline: Tuesday 8 September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much time does the course take?
About three hours per week: roughly two hours of reading and reflection, plus a 90-minute group discussion. Week two requires somewhat more preparation, week five somewhat less.
Do I need any prior knowledge?
No. The course is designed as a first introduction to effective altruism. Participants who already know parts of the material still tend to find the discussions valuable.
What if I can't attend one of the weeks?
Contact your facilitator — missing an occasional session is not a problem. The course also pauses during exam weeks.
What does it cost?
Nothing. The readings are freely available and books are lent out for the duration of the course.
What happens after the course?
Participants have gone on to facilitate later rounds, join the board, or continue with career planning through resources such as 80,000 Hours. There is no obligation in any direction.
The course is adapted from introductory programmes developed by EA university groups internationally, building on the Centre for Effective Altruism's EA Handbook.