Studying in Sweden: A Guide for International Students
Sweden is known for its openness towards the international community, and its education system is no exception. International students from all over the world study in Sweden, where there are over 1,000 degree programmes taught entirely in English.
Unlike many countries, Sweden grants its international students the right to work in Sweden during their studies.
If you are interested in working in Sweden, Europe’s innovation capital, after completing your studies, you can apply for time off to look for work even if you are not from an EU/EEA country.
Read on in this guide to studying in Sweden to learn the practicalities of how to study in Sweden and get a glimpse of student life.
Entry requirements for Swedish universities.
Requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree
To meet the general entry requirements for Bachelor’s level studies, all students must:
- have successfully completed upper secondary education (secondary school) (after the age of 16).
- English Language Requirements
For students who received their final school grades after December 31, 2009, there is an additional entrance requirement for mathematics as follows:
- The student must have successfully completed mathematics courses to reach the level of Swedish Mathematics 1a, 1b or 1c courses.
A note on previous university studies:
If you have previous university studies, in addition to your university qualifications, you will need to submit your high school qualifications.
For some courses and programmes, students are only offered places based on their high school qualifications and NOT their university qualifications.
Requirements for a Master’s Degree
To meet the entry requirements for master’s level studies (second cycle or postgraduate), you must:
- have obtained a bachelor’s degree (equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen) from an internationally recognised university.
- be able to demonstrate proficiency in English. You can do this through an internationally recognised test such as TOEFL, IELTS, etc. Previous upper secondary studies or university studies undertaken in some countries may also fulfil the requirement. Please check the website of the university where you would like to study for more information on language requirements, as they determine what level is required for the course and Master’s programme.
Requirements for a PhD program
Generally speaking, to be admitted to a PhD program, you must:
- Have an undergraduate degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree or higher with a focus on the same subject as the intended field of study. In most cases, a master’s degree is required. Previous studies must have included a degree thesis presenting the results of independent research.
- Have a good command of English. Swedish skills are also important in some subjects where lectures and seminars are held in Swedish.
Other specific admission requirements are set by the department that advertised the position.
Tuition fees and study costs in Sweden.
How expensive is it to study in Sweden?
If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen or have been granted permanent Swedish residence, you will not have to pay tuition fees.
For other international students, annual higher education costs in Sweden vary depending on the university and program. Tuition fees in Sweden range from approximately 80,000 SEK per year (approximately 7,915 EUR or 9,523 USD as of February 2021) to 295,000 SEK (or approximately 29,188 EUR or 35,117 USD as of February 2021).
Living costs depend on the location of the study (larger cities are generally more expensive), but are approximately SEK 8568 per month including rent (approximately EUR 848 or USD 1020 as of February 2021).
You may be eligible for scholarships to study in Sweden. Read more about scholarships at the following link:
Cost of accommodation in Sweden
The types of accommodation available to international students vary by university and city. Your university may provide guaranteed accommodation for international students, but some may not.
Most universities should provide some form of accommodation or counselling service, so check with your university first.
Rent and demand for student housing tend to be highest in large cities like Stockholm, as well as in traditional student cities like Uppsala and Lund.
Monthly rent ranges from 2500 to 6500 SEK. The rent you pay will generally depend on a number of things, including the city, size, and type of accommodation.
Other costs of studying in Sweden.
All students in Sweden need to buy their own textbooks and on average spend 750 SEK/month for this purpose.
Students usually join the local student union for a small membership fee. This gives you access to various student activities and student discounts. Fees range from SEK 50 to SEK 350 per semester, depending on the union.
The cost of healthcare for international students varies depending on whether you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen or not, as well as the length of your studies in Sweden.
Student visas to study in Sweden.
Do I need a student visa to study in Sweden?
This depends on your country of citizenship, i.e. whether you are an EU/EEA/Nordic citizen, a Swiss citizen or not. The length of time you will be studying in Sweden (less or more than three months) can also affect whether or not you will need to apply for a residence permit.
Scroll down to see general requirements for citizens of different countries.
EU/EEA citizens
If you are an EU/EEA citizen, you do not need to apply for a visa or residence permit to study in Sweden.
If you plan to stay in Sweden for more than a year, you must register with the Swedish Population Register. You will then receive a Swedish personal identity number – a “person number”.
Swiss citizens
Citizens of Switzerland do not need a visa or residence permit to enter Sweden.
If you are staying for more than 3 months, you will need to apply for a residence permit before coming to Sweden. But you can start studying in Sweden even before your application is processed.
If you plan to stay in Sweden for more than a year, you must register with the Swedish Population Register. You will then receive a Swedish personal identity number – a “person number”.
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
Depending on your country of citizenship, you may need to apply for a visa before entering Sweden. Citizens of some countries do not need to apply for a visa if they plan to stay in Sweden for less than 3 months.
If you plan to stay in Sweden for more than 3 months, you must apply for a residence permit before moving to Sweden.
If you plan to stay in Sweden for more than a year, you must register with the Swedish Population Register. You must make sure that your residence permit is valid for at least one year. You will then get a Swedish personal identity number – a “person number”.
If you have determined that you will need to apply for a visa or residence permit, please click the link below for information on the paperwork and documentation you will need, and the official government websites to submit your application.
How to apply to study in Sweden.
Closing dates/Deadlines for applications in Sweden
Typically, mid-January is the application deadline for autumn semester studies in Sweden and mid-August is the deadline for submitting applications for the spring semester.
However, it is important to check the website of the university you will be applying to to verify the deadlines.
It is also important that you apply for your student visa/residency permit as soon as you receive notification of acceptance from your university. Waiting periods can be long, so get ahead of the curve by applying for your visa as soon as possible.
Requirements for admission to study in Sweden
Bachelor’s program
Candidates must:
- Having graduated from your senior high school (high school)
- Be proficient in English
- You must have passed mathematics courses to get to the Swedish courses Mathematics 1a, 1b or 1c.
Master Program
Candidates must:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an internationally recognized university.
- Be proficient in English.
PhD Program
Candidates must:
- Have a bachelor’s degree or higher with a focus on the same subject as the intended field of study. Depending on the university and program, a master’s degree may be required. Candidates must have written a senior thesis.
- Be proficient in English and sometimes Swedish, depending on the program you choose.
How to apply for a bachelor’s degree program in Sweden
The first step to studying your bachelor’s degree in Sweden is to choose which program or programs are right for you.
In addition to the general requirements for the above studies, different universities and departments within the university have different requirements, student life and benefits for your future career.
How to apply for a master’s program in Sweden
As with bachelor’s programs in Sweden, applying for a master’s program in Sweden involves selecting the university where you would like to begin your studies, as well as the program you are interested in studying.
In addition to meeting the general requirements above, you will also need to check that you meet the requirements for your program.
You will use the Swedish national university application portal as a central hub to submit your application and documentation.
Read the Swedish Master’s Program Application Guide below to learn all the details of applying for Master’s studies in Sweden.
How to apply for a PhD program in Sweden
Unlike Master’s and Bachelor’s degree programmes, candidates for PhD programmes apply to universities independently of the Swedish university’s admissions website.
There are no universal start dates for Swedish PhD programmes, as some universities have set application dates, while others admit candidates on a rolling basis.
Learn more about program requirements, how to apply to PhD programs in Sweden, and explore a list of websites that universities use to advertise PhD positions at the link below.
Scholarships for international students studying in Sweden
Swedish Institute Scholarships
The Swedish Institute (SI), a government agency, offers scholarships each year for international students and researchers coming to Sweden.
Use the link below to search for your eligibility based on the level of study you would like to pursue in Sweden and your country of citizenship.
Swedish university scholarships
Universities in Sweden offer a range of different scholarship programs for international students to help fund tuition fees or living costs. Available scholarships vary between universities. Below is a link to a list of universities in Sweden.
Other scholarship opportunities
In addition to funding from government agencies, competitions and individual university scholarships, many associations, foundations and other organizations offer scholarships and travel grants for international students in Sweden.
