Studying in Sweden has long been an insider tip, but it’s growing in popularity, and for good reasons. Sweden is the land of untouched nature, cozy cities and open people. Young people who want to study abroad feel at home in this homely atmosphere. The high level of education in the Scandinavian countries is a bonus that they are happy to take advantage of.
As a country located in Europe according to timedictionary, Sweden rivals the world in terms of education. The education system aims to motivate the population for lifelong learning, and it works: almost half of Swedes are involved in some form of education.
University landscape in Sweden
The higher education landscape in Sweden consists mainly of two types of higher education institutions : universities ( Universitet ) and university colleges ( Högskolor ). Here, students can obtain an academic degree, spend a semester abroad or receive further training.
Universities in Sweden award all types of degrees, from bachelor’s to master’s to doctoral degrees. University colleges, on the other hand, are not allowed to offer doctoral programs with a few exceptions.
Quality assurance
The higher education sector is administered by the Ministry of Education and Research ( Utbildningsdepartementet ), while the Swedish Higher Education Authority ( Universitetskanslerämbetet ) ensures consistently high quality standards.
Study system in Sweden
In Sweden, the study system is divided into three levels : The first cycle includes studying at the bachelor level. There are many courses in English that benefit international students. In the Second Cycle Masters courses are held and the Third Cycle describes doctoral studies.
Academic year
When studying in Sweden, the academic year is divided into two semesters. The spring semester starts in January, the autumn semester in September. Most courses start in the fall.
Applying to study in Sweden
Sweden has a standardized application system for all universities and courses. Interested parties from around the world can apply online for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees on the universityadmissions.se website. Send the necessary documents in paper form or digitally to University Admissions.
The Swedish universities are responsible for the application process together with the Swedish Council for Higher Education. There is a separate website for courses in Swedish.
Admission requirements for studying in Sweden
Each higher education institution may have its own rules for accepting international applicants to study in Sweden, but in general the following admission requirements apply : A high school diploma is compulsory for attending a bachelor’s degree, and a first academic degree such as a bachelor’s degree for a master’s degree.
In addition, sufficient knowledge of English needed. For this purpose, the students present their results in a language test such as the IELTS, TOEFL or another common test that the university accepts.
Every student must find out in advance of his application whether the subject of his choice still has individual requirements. The university often requires, for example, prior technical knowledge, further academic test results or the like.
Costs and financing options Sweden
The biggest cost factor when studying abroad, namely the tuition fees, is no longer applicable in Sweden: EU citizens do not pay tuition fees at state universities. What remains is the relatively high cost of living.
Students should calculate at least 800 euros per month; however, this already includes accommodation and meals. The cheapest way to live in Sweden is usually in a student hall of residence, where they get the most out of campus life.
Many students receive BAföG abroad. The application is worthwhile, because financial support is often granted to those who do not receive BAföG in Germany.
Sometimes there are partnerships between the home university and the Swedish university, with funding being awarded as part of exchange programs. Another funding option is the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) scholarship.
Students from abroad are allowed to work in Sweden without any further permit, which makes it easier to finance their studies abroad.
Visa and entry requirements in Sweden
Those who come from the EU do not need a residence permit and can stay in Sweden for an unlimited period of time to study and work. To enter the country, students need a valid passport or identity card.
Health insurance
Since there is a social security agreement between the countries of the European Union, EU citizens with statutory health insurance are also covered when studying in Sweden. All you need is the European Health Insurance Card.
Nevertheless, the implementation of the approval of individual services can be different. It is therefore important to find out about possible personal contributions and other eventualities in advance.
