Last Updated: December 26, 2021
Study in Stockholm
Stockholm is one of the most popular student destinations in the world due to the internationally renowned education system that the country has. Stockholm, being the capital city of Sweden has the best universities in the country including the well-known Stockholm University where students will be able to take the degree of their choice. Though the country has Swedish as their official language, the people there are known for their English-speaking skills which will be highly comforting for international students. Most of the international programs in the country are also offered in English.
Students will be able to immerse themselves in the culture of the country by staying in Stockholm with the only drawback being the difficulty in finding accommodation within the city. The city is also home to the head offices of companies like H&M and Spotify which provide students with the best internship and career opportunities both during and after their education.
Benefits of Studying in Stockholm
The benefits of studying in a city like Stockholm include the exposure the students will get by living in a metropolitan city that has a lot of international students and a tourist population. Students will be able to find that the city bursts with international influences in the fields of fashion, cuisine, art, and music. A few of the benefits of studying in Stockholm include-
- There are around 17 universities in and around Stockholm which offer the best education especially in the fields of art, fine arts, music, engineering, etc.
- Students who live in this city will be able to explore the city and learn about its history which dates back to the 13th century and also understand the blend of ancient and modern architecture and culture upon which the city remains now.
- Students will be able to live anywhere in the city irrespective of the distance to their university owing to the excellent transportation system that connects every nook and corner of the city through the local transports, metro, and underground rails.
Finding Places to Stay in Stockholm
Finding a place to stay in Stockholm is tricky due to the shortage of apartments and other student accommodations in the city. Students will be able to stay in the accommodation provided by their university for a maximum of a year after which they will have to move out into their own spaces. This process involves joining the student housing queue months before one has to move out so they can find the perfect accommodation for themselves. The waiting period for finding accommodation will be based on the square footage of the apartment one is looking for and the localities they seek to live in. This can go up to even 200 days. The most popular sites where students hunt for apartments include-
- Blocket
- SSSB
- Qasa
- Akademisk kvart
- Facebook
- Svenska Studenthus
Students who choose to stay in Stockholm often opt for shared accommodations and studio apartments that are close to their institution. The shared accommodations will provide the student with a room of their own but students also sometimes opt for independent houses which they can share with other students.
Cost of Living in Stockholm
The cost of living in Stockholm is relatively more expensive, owing to the fact that it is the capital city of Sweden and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Students will find that the most expensive part of living in the city is the transportation expenses along with accommodation expenses. But students who decide to live in student accommodations and shared apartments close to their universities will be able to cut down considerably on the expenses. The cost of living in the city is 9,330 Kr if one is to not calculate the rent.
Accommodation and Utility Expenses
Accommodation expenses in the city vary according to the locality the student chooses to stay in. The closer they are to the city center, the more rent they will have to pay for the apartment they have chosen. Students will be able to find affordable accommodation options in popular student localities that are close to the city. The estimated rent for staying in a 1-bedroom apartment is around 15,000 Kr per month. If the student chooses to live in similar accommodations outside the city center, the rent will go down to around 10,000 Kr per month.
Utility expenses are estimated to be around 800 Kr per month.
Grocery Expenses
The price for basic grocery items is-
- Milk- 11.22 Kr per liter
- Cheese- 85.72 Kr per kg
- Apples- 30 Kr per kg
- Tomatoes- 35 Kr per kg
- Potatoes- 12 Kr per kg
- Wine- 100 per bottle
- Onions- 13 Kr per kg
Transportation Expenses
Students who live in the city will be able to use public transport which includes local buses, metro, rails, trams, and even ferries. Students who live close to their university will be able to make use of the bike lanes and bike to their institutions which will considerably reduce their transportation expenses. Students will be able to take travelcards that have a duration of 24 hours, 72 hours, 7 days, and 30 days. While the cost for a one-way ticket in a local transport is 38 Kr, students will be able to get a monthly pass for 950 Kr.
Programs to Study in Stockholm
The fields of study that are popular in Stockholm are-
- Arts and Humanities
- Business
- Economics
- Computer Sciences
- Law
- Political Science
- Geological Sciences
Top Universities in Stockholm
A few of the best universities in Stockholm are-
Stockholm University
This public university was established in the year 1878 and has a student population of over 33,000. They also have over 5,500 academic staff. The university is the fourth oldest public university in the country and offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs to both domestic and international candidates. They focus mainly on the fields of natural sciences and humanities which have been divided into 4 faculties that deal with over 56 departments. They provide over 75 programs in English. The doctoral programs are offered under the areas of human science and science with human science including humanities, social sciences, and law and the sciences dealing with chemistry, mathematics-physics, biology, earth & environmental sciences, etc.
Stockholm School of Economics
This is a private university that was established in the year 1909 with over 2,000 students and 300 administrative staff. They offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs along with executive education programs to both domestic and international candidates. The programs they offer are rooted in economics, business, and management with only two BSc programs and over 5 MSc programs. The MBA programs of this institution are highly valued internationally. The doctoral programs they offer are in the fields of business administration, finance, and economics.
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
This public university was established in the year 1827 and has a student population of over 14,000 along with over 1,000 academic staff. The main fields of study for which programs are offered include engineering & technology, natural sciences, and physical sciences. These programs are offered through the four different campuses of the university. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in the fields of architecture & built environment, electrical engineering & computer science, engineering sciences, chemistry, biotechnology, industrial engineering & management, etc.
Karolinska Institutet
This public university was established in the year 1810 and has a student population of over 7,000 along with over 4,800 administrative staff. It is a medical university with departments for biosciences & nutrition, cell & molecular biology, clinical neuroscience, dental medicine, environmental medicine, laboratory medicine, medicine, microbiology, neuroscience, public health sciences, etc. Students will be able to do undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs at this university. Most of the programs here are taught in Swedish except the Ph.D. programs which is why international students mostly apply for doctoral programs in the university.
KMH Royal College of Music
This is a higher education college for music where students will be able to learn undergraduate and postgraduate programs along with teacher education programs and freestanding programs. The programs they offer include jazz composition, western art music composition, choir, church music performance, folk music, music and media production, etc. The freestanding programs include jazz orchestra, advanced interpretation, European masterclasses & orchestra, etc. They also offer research options for fields like music as an artistic performance, music education, music & health, and music & technology.
Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design
This university was established in the year 1844 and is dedicated to the areas of art and craft. They offer degrees at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels in the fields of ceramics & glass, fine art, graphic design & illustration, industrial design, textiles, metal design, visual communication, visual culture & learning. The doctoral program they offer is in collaboration with the Royal Institute of Technology in the fields of art, technology, and design.
Royal Institute of Art
This institution was founded in the year 1735 and they offer fine arts programs, post-master courses, and international exchange programs. The post-master courses are provided with an emphasis on research and hence are topic-specific with a blend of art and socio-politics. The topics change from year to year and deal with subjects like architectural conservation, symbiotic organizations, decolonizing architecture, Materialities-coordinates, etc.
Entertainment Options in Stockholm
Stockholm offers students innumerable entertainment options ranging from the popular tourist destinations they can visit the nightclubs and pubs students will be able to party at. The place also called the Venice of the North offers students with scenic locations they can roam about in including the canals, waterways, museums, parks, and galleries. The place also holds different festivals like the Macken Festival, Lollapalooza, Kaffefestivalen, etc. that students will be able to see during their stay in the city.
Places to Visit in Stockholm
Stockholm is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Sweden with different archipelago islands, parks, and natural reserves along with plenty of museums, galleries, and other places that one will be able to visit. A few of the must-see places in the city are-
- Fotografiska- Students who visit this museum will be able to view the exhibitions that are conducted now and then which include contemporary photography. The place also has cafes, restaurants, and other eateries where students will be able to explore organic cuisine.
- Stockholm City Hall- This place has a history that dates back to the early 20th century. Students will be able to see images and postcards that describe the city and also view the artwork, assembly rooms, and even see the Gyllene salen which has over 18 million mosaics on the wall. The view of the city from the tower is also one of the must-see things while visiting the place.
- Royal National City Park- Students who love nature will be able to visit this urban park and roam around in their leisure time. They will be able to see foxes, deer, and other rare birds in this park and explore the swimming spots and hilltops during their visit here.
Things to Do in Stockholm
Stockholm being the capital city of Sweden and one of the most popular tourist destinations offers students umpteen possibilities for entertainment. They will be able to visit the museums, galleries, parks, and other places in the city and also go to nightclubs, pubs, and bars that remain open most of the time. A few of the things that students can do in the city are-
- Explore the Gamla Stan- The Gamla Stan or the Old Town has a history that dates back to the 1200s and is a must-see place to understand and absorb the culture of Stockholm. Students will be able to visit the cafes, restaurants, boutique shops, and even find labyrinths, vaults, and frescoes in the public square if they seek them out.
- Weekend Getaway on Stockholm Boats- Students will be able to find that in summers, there will be plenty of boat tours that they can go on which will allow them to stay for months, weekends, and even days on stretch depending on the time they have. They will also be able to take a 24-hour journey on the boat which will go around Stockholm providing a view of the city from the sea.
- Visit the Royal Palace- The royal palace where the King of Sweden used to reside dates back to the 18th century and is built with Baroque architecture. The place has over 600 rooms and also includes different museums that students will be able to visit.