[en] Energy levels in ¹⁵³Er have been populated in the reaction ¹⁴⁴Sm(¹²C,3n)¹⁵³Er. Isotopically enriched targets were bombarded with 53-65 MeV ¹²C ions and the emitted γ-ray and conversion electron spectra were investigated. From studies of excitation functions, γ-γ coincidences, γ-ray multiplicities, delayed γ-radiation and angular distributions, the level scheme of ¹⁵³Er has been constructed. The properties of the energy levels are discussed and compared with the results of calculations with a deformed shell model. The remarkable similarities and some important discrepancies of the level structure, when compared with adjacent N=85 nuclides, are emphasized.(author)