study in sweden

About Sweden

Sweden is the third largest country in Western Europe, having a total area of 450,295 square kilometres. Sweden has a great diversity in its nature and climate, characterized by its long coastline, extensive forests and numerous lakes. It is one of the world’s northernmost countries. The population in Sweden is approximately 9.5 inhabitants, with a low population density of 21 inhabitants per square kilometre.

Sweden experiences extreme contrasts between its long summer days and equally long winter nights. In the summer, the sun stays in the sky around the clock in the parts of Sweden north of the Arctic Circle, but even as far south as Stockholm, the June nights have only a few hours of semi-darkness.

The official language of Sweden is Swedish, a North Germanic language, related and very similar to Danish and Norwegian, but differing in pronunciation and orthography. A majority of Swedes, an estimation of 89%, are able to understand and speak English well. Most of those born after World War II speak English fluently.

Sweden remains one of the most egalitarian countries in terms of income distribution, and has one of the world’s lowest levels of poverty. It’s no surprise that Sweden consistently appears near the top of the Human Development Index, which ranks countries according to life expectancy, education and standard of living. While Swedes pay high taxes to maintain their prized social welfare system, they are no longer the highest-taxed people in the world.

Studying in Sweden

Sweden is one of the world’s most committed investors in basic research; spending in the field of research amounts to almost 4 percent of GDP to research and development, making Sweden the top-ranking country in the EU in that respect. Swedish research is wide-ranging and well respected internationally. Swedish researchers are especially prominent in the fields of natural science, medicine and technology.

Sweden is the home of the prestigious Nobel pize and has highly acclaimed universities dating back to the 15th century. Swedish universities are renowned for their investigative research and independent thinking, and this reputation is cemented with nationally certified degrees and rigorous quality control. Sweden has one of the most ambitious educational evaluation programs in the world, aimed at maintaining the system’s competitive edge.

Realizing that global job market values ambitious, innovative and perceptive team players, Swedish universities have an open climate with a strong focus on group work, providing students with valuable skills for the future. Swedish universities foster these qualities through a forward-thinking culture where students are close to the latest ideas and trends.

Swedish master’s degree programs offer unusual opportunities to turn theory into practice. Many programs cooperate closely with the industry, offering students the possibility to mix study and practical work. This gives students admitted to swedish universities distinct advantages over their peers when entering the job market. Personal initiative and independent thinking are prized. Enrolled students will be required to take an active role and contribute with their opinions and ideas at lectures, seminars and in group discussions. Besides, the education system is student-centric and relations between students and teachers are informal in a remarkable way . For instance, a student in Sweden is expected to address his teachers by their first names.

Sweden has a number of large multinational corporations, such as telecom provider Ericsson, automotive companies Volvo and Scania, household appliances corporation Electrolux, bearing manufacturer SKF, and high-tech engineering groups Sandvik and Atlas Copco. Becoming a graduate of a leading swedish university might constitiute a priceless opportunity to work at one of these cutting edge organizations. Many Swedish companies use English as their official working language.

Swedish Master’s/Doctoral Studies

Sweden is providing more than 600 master’s program taught entirely in English. A requirement for applying to a master’s program is the completion of at least three years at first level at a Swedish higher education institution, or the international equivalent – such as a three-year bachelor’s degree (180 higher education credits). For language prerequisite, the applicant should show documented proficiency in English, such as passing TOEFL or IELTS exams with a minimum score, which might vary between universities. Besides, each program might require some specific entry requirements. Usually, a typical application requires including the bachelor’s certificate, transcript of records, a personal statement and a resume/C.V.

To be admitted to a postgraduate research (PhD) position, a student must hold a university degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree or higher, with a major in the same subject as the intended field of study. In most cases a master’s degree is required. The major must have included a degree thesis presenting the results of independent research. Foreign students wishing to study for a PhD in Sweden are advised to prepare a master’s degree in Sweden first. A Swedish master’s degree is likely to improve a student’s chances of being admitted to a PhD program. Specific requirements are set for each subject. For information about these applicants should contact the department they are interested in. An assessment will also be made of the applicant’s suitability and his or her ability to complete doctoral studies.

Education Fees and Life expenses

A couple of years ago, Swedish universities had no tuition fees at all. Unfortunately, this is not the case anymore due to a recent bill passed in the Swedish parliament. The fees only apply to bachelor’s and master’s degree, whereas no fees are required for PhD programs. Students outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland are excluded from such fees. Fees vary from a university to another, ranging from 80,000 to 140,000 swedish Kronor (9,000 – 16,000 Euros) per academic year. Programs in specific fields such as medicine set higher fees. these tuition fees include free insurance and health benifits. However, the swedish institute, a government agency, as well as the swedish universites themselves, offer several scholarships every year to non EU/EEA students and researchers. These scholarships are available for applicants of specific countries and intended level of study, and can be quite competitive. Besides, some universities offer scholarships or tuition waivers directly to high-performing students.

Students admitted to programs in swedish universites are required to prove that they can cover living expenses during their study period, which is set to approximately SEK 7,300 per month. Of course living expenses vary greatly from a person to another, and from a city to another, but in general one can manage to support himself finantially in Sweden with much less that the required amount.

Student accomodation in Sweden

Finding a suitable accomodation in some cities in Sweden might not be an easy job as expected, specially in large cities such as Stockholm and Gothenburg, or traditional student cities such as Lund. There is no national system to arrange accomodation for students in Sweden. The local student union at the university might take over this function, however, it is recommended to seek other possibilities as well. Other possibililtes include contacting housing providers directly, or renting a appartment in the private market.