Study in Sweden

Sweden, one of the most modern countries in the world is popularly known as “a land of innovations.” The country is also well-known for providing high quality and unconventional education.

Universities in Sweden have a unique student-centric education system. The programs are crafted in a way that promotes group and independent study among students. 

Studying in Sweden prepares students for a successful future by inculcating in them the true spirit of  innovation and group work, the traits highly valued in the job market. 

For a student wanting to pursue higher studies in Sweden, here’s an overview of Sweden as a  study destination: 

Apart from the picturesque landscapes, progressive politics and excellent standard of living, Sweden’s education system for international students is what makes it unique. Here are some top reasons to study in Sweden : 

• There are several internationally renowned universities in Sweden which provide the best quality education. The focus here is on personalised learning, group work, innovation and application rather than just plain classroom teaching.
• The prominent reason to study in Sweden is that it offers a unique, fun and exciting student life. International students can immerse themselves in a whole new culture and enjoy a great quality of life. 
• Although the official language of Sweden is Swedish, the Swedes speak English quite well. Infact, Sweden is one of the most fluent English speaking countries. Hence, seeking education in Sweden for Indian students is pretty convenient as they do not face a language barrier.
• One of the best reasons to study in Sweden is that students can get a chance to travel to various other European countries easily. Sweden is very well connected to other European countries. 
• Sweden is the home to various top international businesses. This means that studying in Sweden for international students will be very beneficial in terms of job opportunities.

Like other countries, the education system in Sweden begins with the pre-school or förskola, followed by primary schooling and then the Gymnasium or the high school. After completing upper secondary education or what you call high-school, there are majorly 3 types of degrees offered for higher studies in Sweden: 

• Bachelor’s Degree : Full time undergraduate degree which has a duration of 3 years. 
• Masters Degree : A postgraduate degree which spans over 2 years. 
• Doctorate Degree: A doctorate degree takes a total of 2-5 years to complete. 

The Swedish Education system is highly reputed and offers a wide variety of courses to international students. The detailed view of different types of institutions of  higher education in Sweden is discussed below:

Credit System in Sweden 

All the Universities in Sweden follow the ECTS Credit system. All the credits that a student earns during the course are taken into consideration to calculate the final result. 

• Sweden has adopted the Bologna System which standardised qualifications across Europe. The national system of credits (HP or “högskolepoäng”) is equivalent to ECTS credits.  
• One week’s full-time study (40 hours) corresponds to 1.5 higher education credits (HP). Each semester is 20 weeks long, during which a student is expected to take 30 credits’ worth of courses. 1 Swedish credit is equal to 1 ECTS credit.
• The three most common grading systems in Sweden are the seven-grade scale (A–F, Fx), the three-grade scale VG, G, U and the pass or fail system G/U. The grades from all systems can be converted to ECTS for grade comparison with other universities across Europe.

The Swedish Universities admission process is fairly simple and can be done online. A step by step process of studying in Sweden for international students is discussed below: 

1. Find a university and a program which best suits your interests. 
2. Once you have shortlisted the universities, check for all the entry requirements and eligibility criteria. Also, keep all your documents handy. 
3. Head on over to University Admissions – Sweden’s central application portal. You have to complete your admission in Sweden via this site. 
4. Fill the required forms and upload all the documents correctly and check the deadlines and start the process well in advance. 
5. Pay the application fee of SEK 900.
6. Wait for the universities to revert. You can check the status of your application at University Admissions.  
7. Once you receive the approval from the university you can apply for a Swedish Student Visa.

Sweden University Requirements for International Students

An important part of the application process is meeting the entry requirements and eligibility criteria. You may check out the requirements on your desired university’s website. Some of the most common requirements for international students looking to study in Sweden are:

Note: For students who received their final school grades after 31 December 2009, there is an additional mathematics requirement. The student must have successfully completed courses in mathematics equal to the Swedish courses Mathematics 1a, 1b or 1c.

The cost of studying in Sweden depends on a lot of factors like the university you choose, the city you decide to live in, the program or course that you choose etc. As an international student, you will have to spend on two important things – cost of tuition and cost of living. 

Tuition fees 

Your annual tuition fees in Sweden will consist of a semester fee and tuition fees. Please note that the fees may vary based on the university you choose. Students also have to pay some administrative fees and other student service charges. Take a look at some cost estimates depending on the type of degree. 

Cost of Living 

The cost of living in Sweden will depend on the kind of lifestyle you have. Most of your expenses will go on accommodation and other expenses like food, shopping, transport etc. On average, you will need around SEK 8,568 per month to cover your cost of living.  Take a look at an expense chart of an international student in Sweden. 

Sweden is known to have a great quality of life and an amazing standard of living. Take a look at some of the best cities in Sweden for International students. 

Stockholm 

• Average Cost of Living/ Month: SEK 12,467 

• Top Universities: Stockholm University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology 

Uppsala 

• Average Cost of Living/ Month: SEK 11,968

• Top Universities: Uppsala University, Newman Institute 

Umea 

• Average Cost of Living/ Month: SEK 8,000 – 9,000

• Top Universities: Umea University 

Gothenburg 

• Average Cost of Living/ Month: SEK 10,845 

• Top Universities: Gothenburg University, Chalmers University of Technology

Lund 

• Average Cost of Living/ Month: SEK 8,477 
• Top Universities: Lund University

Getting a Sweden Student Visa is quite simple. Students looking to study in Sweden for more than 3 months must apply for the Resident Permit in Sweden. These are long-stay visas and also allow students to work part-time in Sweden. 

It can take 90 days for processing the visa and students are also required to pay a visa fee of SEK 1,500. 

Here’s an overview of the Student visa process in Sweden: 

• Confirm your admission to a Swedish university and prepare the documents required for your student visa application. 
• Confirm health insurance (if applicable)
• Fill the residence permit application form online by logging to Migrationsverket Website.
• Upload the documents and submit your application.
• Pay the visa fee of SEK 1,500 through a Visa or Mastercard
• Receive confirmation from the consulate or embassy
• Submit your biometric information and photograph at the nearest embassy  consulate office of Sweden on receiving the email. 

Cost of study in Sweden for Indian students can be on a higher side. In this case,  scholarships can be very useful for students to help them cover their cost of studying in Sweden. The scholarships awarded can be by universities, by the Sweden government or other organisations.

Here are some of the popular scholarships for international students in Sweden:

Lund University Scholarships 

• International students pursuing bachelors or masters programmes. 
• Amount/Benefit : Covers only tuition fees 

Chalmers University of Technology Scholarships 

• International students for masters programmes. 
• Amount/Benefit : Tuition fee waivers 

The global sustainable electricity partnership scholarships

• International students for masters programmes. 
• Amount/Benefit : Around 10,000 USD per year (max 2 years)

Scrintal Student Scholarships 

• International students pursuing bachelors programmes. 
• Amount/Benefit : Around 250 USD financial aid.

KTH Royal Institute of technology scholarships

• International students pursuing masters. 
• Amount/Benefit : Tuition fees of one of two years of masters programme is covered. 

Linkoping University scholarships 

• International students pursuing masters programme. 

Amount/Benefit : 25, 50 or 75 % tuition fee reduction.

After completing education in Sweden, students may apply to post study work options available depending on their needs. Most students have to apply for work permits in Sweden if they have found a job which pays a minimum salary of SEK 14,000 per month before taxes. 

Job Outlook for International Students after Studies

Here are some of the most popular areas to find jobs in Sweden after masters : 

Work Visa & PR in Sweden

Students from a non-EU country who plan to stay and work in Sweden after completing their studies must first apply for a work permit through the Swedish Migration Board. You can do so without leaving the country before your residence permit for studies expires, provided you meet the following criteria : 

• You must have a residence permit for studies
• You must apply before your residence permit expires
• You must have earned at least 30 higher education credits or completed one semester of postgraduate studies in Sweden
• You must be offered terms of employment that are in line with the norm for your occupation or industry in Sweden
• The pre-tax salary you have been offered must be at least SEK 13,000
• You must have a valid passport 

Obtaining permanent residency in Sweden is not easy but is not impossible either. To get PR in Sweden, you must have a 5 year continuous stay in the country.  Non-EU students need to prove that during the past 5 years, they were employed.

While education in Sweden can be a bit more expensive, living conditions and quality education, make the investment totally worth it. This is the reason why the number of students applying to Swedish universities has been increasing over the years. If you too are interested in studying abroad in Sweden, but are unsure of where to get started, you can get in touch with our  Counsellors for assistance today!

Ques: Does Sweden have a good education?

Ans: The Swedeish School System, through the education act grants 10 years of schooling education, the moment a child turns 6 years old.

Ques: How expensive is it to study in Sweden?

Ans: Fees is normally in the range of SEK 50-350 per semester depending on the University.

Ques: When should a student apply for a student visa to Sweden?

Ans: On receiving an offer letter from a University and pay the advance fee deposit, you have to apply online for a student visa for Sweden, through the Swedish Migration Agency.