Study in Sweden

Sweden is a Nordic country that is well-known for multinational firms and the high-quality education they provide to both domestic and international students. The country is home to scenic locations including lakes, streams, rolling hills, mountains, and architectural brilliance found in churches, archipelagos, and other historical sites. Students who come to this country will be able to study programs that help them focus on academics than grades. The education system here is student-centric and will allow students to learn from group activities than from lectures.

The country is known for being one of the most equal countries in the world with the lowest gender pay gaps and publicly-funded healthcare for all. International students will be able to easily blend in with the large immigrant population in the country though it would be ideal for them to live in the country if they learn Swedish than rely only on English. The country has 14 public universities in all and 17 colleges that are publicly funded that provide free education to EU/EEA candidates at all levels and tuition-free doctoral programs for all international candidates. Learn more about Life and Living in Sweden.

Benefits of Studying in Sweden

Sweden is one of the destinations that is gaining popularity among international students due to the approach the country has for higher education and also the quality of education they provide. Students who opt to study in this country will be able to choose from a variety of programs in the fields of medicine, engineering, management, and arts at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. A few of the benefits apart from immersing oneself in the language and culture of the place include-

• The education in Sweden focuses on the concept of freedom and responsibility which will allow students to pursue their field of interest without being held back by grades. They will be involved in group activities more than lectures and other traditional methods of teaching.
• The student-centric mode of study will allow students to be better learners which in turn will provide them with a foundation for research irrespective of whether they choose to pursue research.
• Students will be able to get scholarships as soon as they get enrolled in a public university since there are plenty of scholarships available which are provided based on nationality, merit, and financial background.
• The country has different multinational firms where engineering graduates, software developers, and architects will be able to find jobs as soon as they graduate and also do internships during their studies.

Eligibility for Studying in Sweden

The eligibility requirements for enrolling into a study program in Sweden are dependent on the level of study the candidate has opted for and the institution they are going to. The requirements change from university to university and also according to the field of study the candidate has chosen. Students will be able to find the details for the same on their respective university website or they will be able to confirm the requirements by enquiring at the admission office of the university.

Despite the subjective nature of the requirements, there are general requirements that most universities have for almost all the programs. These general requirements include-

• A Valid Passport
• Educational Transcripts
• Proof of Proficiency in English
• Proof of Proficiency in Swedish, if required
• Personal Statement
• Letters of Recommendation
• Thesis of postgrad program, if applying for Ph.D.

Cost of Studying in Sweden

The cost of studying in Sweden is dependent on the level of study the candidate has chosen and the type of funding their university receives. Publicly funded universities offer programs to both domestic and international students at affordable rates which can also be easily covered by university and institutional scholarships that students receive upon applying based on their merit. At the same time, the programs offered by private institutions in the country can be relatively higher for almost all programs.

The cost of studying is different for students according to their nationality, as well. Students who are from Sweden or from EU/EEA countries will be able to study for free irrespective of the level of study they have been enrolled in. Students who are from non-EU/EEA countries will have to pay a fee between 80,000kr to 1,40,000kr per year. They will be able to minimize their expenditure for tuition if they enroll in universities that have less tuition fees when compared to others. A few of these universities are-

• Lund University
• Uppsala University
• Malmo University
• Stockholm University
• Karolinska University

Degree Programs in Sweden

Students who choose to study in Sweden will be able to take higher diploma programs, bachelor’s degrees, and professional degrees at an undergraduate level with a bachelor’s degree being called a kandidatexamen and the higher education diploma referred to as hogskoleexamen. Students will be able to take a master’s degree with a duration of 1 or 2years depending on the field of study. A 1-year master’s program is called a magisterexamen and a 2-year program is referred to as masterexamen.

Sweden also offered excellent research programs to domestic and international students. Doctoral programs do not have a tuition fee for all students and are referred to as doktorsexamen. The education system in Sweden is considered to be one of the best especially in the field of research with the motto for education based on terms like freedom and responsibility.

The most popular programs in the country are at postgraduate and doctoral levels. The fields of study that are popular include computer science, information technology, management, mechanical engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, business analytics, etc.

Top Universities in Sweden

The best global universities in Sweden are-

• Karolinska Institute
• Lund University
• Uppsala University
• Stockholm University
• University of Gothenburg
• Royal Institute of Technology
• Umea University
• Chalmers University of Technology
• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
• Linkoping University

Scholarships to Study in Sweden

Sweden provides subsidized education for Swedish nationals and EU/EEA candidates. Non-EU/EEA candidates who enroll in universities here will be required to pay a tuition fee within the range of 80,000kr to 1,40,000kr per year depending on the program and university they have been admitted to. These students will be able to find scholarships that can fund their education based on their nationality, merit, and economic condition. The scholarships here are provided by universities, Swedish institutes, and other associations, foundations, and organizations mainly.

A few of the scholarships that students can avail include-

• Chalmers University Scholarships- This is a university scholarship provided for students who have enrolled in a master’s program at Chalmer’s University. The scholarship covers a reduction in fees for a total of almost 120 credits. This is subject to vary from student to student and program to program.
• Karolinska Institute Global Master’s Scholarships- Students who have been admitted to Global Master’s programs in the institute will be provided with scholarships. This is provided based on merit and the number of scholarships awarded changes from year to year. The scholarship will cover the entirety of the tuition fee.
• Lund University Global Scholarship- The Global Scholarships offered by Lund University are provided to students at the master’s level based only on their merit. The scholarship will cover a part of the tuition fee which can even be the entire tuition fee the candidate has to pay for the program.
• Stockholm School of Economics Scholarships- This scholarship is provided for bachelor’s and master’s students. It may cover either 50% or 100% of the tuition fee and is offered on a competitive basis.
• BTH Scholarship- This scholarship is provided for students from non-EU/EEA countries. It is provided for candidates who have enrolled in a master’s program and entails a 50% reduction in the tuition fee.

Working While Studying in Sweden

Students who have enrolled for courses that have a duration of more than 3 months will be able to work in Sweden as long as they have a residence permit. The only troublesome part in finding a part-time job in the country is the necessity of knowing Swedish since only understanding English will not provide many opportunities for candidates. To find work in the country, students will have to approach the companies they are interested in personally or they will have to resort to putting up ads on notice boards in their university. The sites that will help students find jobs online are-

• EURES
• Academic Work
• Arbetsformedlingen

Students will also be able to find opportunities if they skim through newspapers like the Local.

Career Options in Sweden

Sweden is one of those countries that allow students to stay and work in the country once they have completed their education. Candidates who are from EU/EEA countries will be able to find jobs without much hassle especially since they do not have to notify the Migration Board if they wish to stay back. Students from non-EU/EEA countries will have to approach the Migration Board and notify them about their wish to stay back and work in the country.

They will be provided with an additional 6 months for looking for jobs as long as they apply for a residence permit. Upon procuring the job they desire they will be able to apply for a work permit and stay in the country. A few of the jobs that are popularly opted for by international students include-

• Architect
• Medical Secretary
• Civil Engineer
• Dentist
• Software Developer
• Pharmacist

The fields that are mostly considered include e-commerce, manufacturing, healthcare, technology, education, etc.