Study In Sweden

Many thousands of students travel to Europe each year to pursue higher education. Sweden is quickly rising to the top of the list of popular European nations for international students seeking higher education. Sweden provides a best infrastructure for research, professional development, and high-quality education. Five Swedish institutions are listed among the top 200 universities in the world according to the QS world university rankings for 2023. KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Lund University were ranked 89th and 95th worldwide in the QS rankings for 2023, respectively.

Sweden is located in northern Europe on the Scandinavian peninsula. Lots of students from other countries apply to Swedish universities. There are more than 50,000 foreign students in Sweden. One of the most favoured destinations for higher education among overseas students is Sweden. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Indian Government estimates that there will be 2,500 Indian students studying in Sweden in 2022.

Why Study in Sweden

The popularity of Sweden among international students is rising. The best universities in the world include those in Sweden. Sweden’s universities provide a best infrastructure for professional programs and research. The fact that Swedish universities offer courses in English is one of their outstanding features. One of the top choices for international students seeking higher education in Europe is Sweden.

Education System

According to worldwide standards, the Swedish educational system is well renowned. One of the best educational systems in the world is one that exists in Sweden. The Swedish Higher Education Authority evaluates the quality of higher education and research in Sweden, while the Ministry of Higher Education and Research sets out the governing regulations. Sweden is home to some of the most renowned universities in the world. In Sweden, there are more than 50 universities and college-level institutions. While some are private universities, the majority of higher education institutions are supported by the government. Chalmers University of Technology, Jonkoping University, and Stockholm School of Economics are some of the top-ranked private universities. While some of Sweden’s oldest public universities are found at Lund and Uppsala.

Education levels

In Sweden, the first cycle is known to as the bachelor’s degree. In Sweden, first cycle courses are the term used to describe undergraduate courses. As these courses are given in English, there is no problem with a language barrier preventing international students from pursuing their education.

Similar to other countries, Sweden refers to the PhD level of courses as the third cycle and the master’s level as the second cycle. Sweden offers professional courses in either the first or second cycle. In Sweden, professional courses typically last 5 years of full-time study.

There are two semesters—autumn and spring—in an academic year. The autumn semester is when the majority of the courses are offered. The final week of August marks the start of the autumn semester, which lasts until mid-January the following year. The autumn semester has a short winter break in December. Starting in January and lasting until June is the spring semester. Credit systems are used in Swedish universities. Hence, in order to pass a course, you must earn a certain number of credits.

Top Universities

The top Swedish universities as determined by QS and THE are listed in this section. The most reputable and widely used global university rankings are QS and Times Higher Education (THE). They publish global university rankings every year.

Cost of Studying in Sweden

One of the most expensive countries on the planet is Sweden. Sweden’s international institutions charge comparatively high tuition rates. In terms of the cost of attending school, public and private institutions are both expensive. As a result, it’s important that you make the necessary preparations before applying to Sweden. This should not discourage you, though, as there are many scholarships available for students from abroad. To promote higher education in Sweden, universities external funding organizations provide a variety of scholarships and fellowships for international students.

Here we will provide a table of tuition fees for various courses offered in Swedish universities. From this table, you will be able to get an idea of the cost of studying in Sweden.

Cost of Living in Sweden

The cost of living is depending on a variety of factors, including your lifestyle, the size, location, and type of accommodation, and type of house. Large cities like Stockholm or Gothenburg have higher housing rents than smaller cities. You might expect paying a monthly housing rent as a student of between SEK 2,500 and SEK 6,500. The accommodation on the university campus, however, is the greatest choice for a student. University housing is less expensive and simpler to locate. Students at universities have a variety of housing options from which to choose, depending on what suits them best.

Sweden Student Visa

Apart for residents of the European Union, all international students must have a visa to enter Sweden. Since Sweden is a part of the European Union, individuals from other EU nations are free to visit and live there without the need for a visa. Each country has its own set of visa requirements. Both online and offline applications for visas are accepted. To use offline mode, go to the Swedish embassy that is nearest to you. Nonetheless, due to Sweden’s membership in the EU, Sweden is represented by other countries in a number of locations as part of the Schengen visa cooperation. This means that you can apply for a Swedish visa through an embassy of a member state of the European Union if there is no Swedish embassy in your nation.

Sweden only offers visas valid for 90 days. You must submit an application for a visitor’s residence visa if your visit to Sweden requires a stay of more than 90 days. We shall go into detail about the residence permit and the visa requirements for Sweden.

Student Visa Requirements for Sweden

In this section, we will discuss in detail about the requirements for getting a visa for studies. To receive a visa for studies in Sweden a student must have the following documents:

• A valid passport that is valid for at least three months after the visa has expired and was issued in the last ten years and has at least two empty pages
• Declaration of the purpose of the visit to Sweden
• Proof of acceptance from a university/college in Sweden
• Sufficient money to support yourself in Sweden and return trip to your country
• You must have a minimum of SEK 450 for each day you stay in Sweden
• Medical travel insurance that covers emergency medical treatment.
• Proof of intent to leave Sweden and the Schengen area on the last day before the visa expires
• Photograph no older than six months
• Other documents that the embassy may require

Sweden Resident Permit

A residence permit is needed if your stay in Sweden will last more than 90 days and you are not a citizen of the EU. Foreign students should submit an application as soon as possible for a residence permit because they need it before they may visit Sweden. Prior to submitting an application for a residence permit, you must be admitted to your chosen Swedish university or college.

Below we have mentioned some documents required to apply for a residence permit in Sweden:

• You need to pay the first instalment of your tuition fees
• Copies of your passport
• Letter of admission from your university in Sweden
• Proof that you can support yourself financially during your stay in Sweden
• Health insurance
• Submit the online application
• Wait for approval

 Admission Requirements to Study at Swedish Universities

Understanding the requirements for admission to Swedish universities is important. The requirements can be divided into two categories: general requirements and particular requirements.

The entry requirements for nearly all of the programs that Swedish universities offer are known as general admission requirements. Also, there are distinct admission standards for each program that the Swedish institutions provide.

General Entry Requirements

There are some general entry requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate programs taught in English for international students.

For undergraduate programs

• Successfully completed upper secondary education
• Able to demonstrate proficiency in English.
• Students who received their final school grade after 31 December 2009 must have successfully completed courses equal to the Swedish courses Mathematics 1a, 1b, or 1c.

For postgraduate programs

• 3-year bachelor’s degree with honours or 4-year bachelor’s degree
• Grades in English that are issued by CBSE from 2008 onwards
• Transcript of completed courses and grades for each semester included in your degree
• Proof that you meet the specific entry requirements

Specific Entry Requirements

In addition to the general entry requirements, the majority of undergraduate and postgraduate programs have specific entry requirements. These particular admittance standards for a given program differ from university to university. The particular program pages that are available on the university website describe the precise entry requirements for acceptance.

Top Cities Preferred by Students

Sweden is a country in Northern Europe’s Northern European area. It is one of the most beautiful nations on earth. But Sweden is a small country, home to only about 11 million people. A good standard of living and an equal level of security are available in all of the country’s largest cities. Sweden’s colleges and universities are spread all around the country. The top destinations in Sweden, however, include Stockholm, Lund, Gothenburg, Umea, Uppsala, Linkoping, and Galve.

Scholarships to Study in Sweden

Sweden is an expensive place to study. In fact, Sweden is among the most costly nations in the world. Hence, scholarships become important for international students if you wish to study in Sweden. Scholarships help student with paying for their tuition and other costs. For students, a variety of scholarships are available. Some scholarships are supported by the university, while others are provided by other organizations. University scholarships may be awarded based on merit or need. On their websites, universities outline the various kinds of scholarships available.

Part Time Work Option for International students in Sweden

It makes sense to look for part-time job prospects in Sweden given the country’s high cost of living. There is no limit to the number of part-time hours that can be worked, unlike in other nations. But it’s difficult to find a part-time job in Sweden. Even if you do manage to land a part-time job, it won’t be sufficient to pay your bills. There are many internships available, but as mentioned before, you cannot rely on them to cover your costs.

Post Study Work Permit in Sweden

Sweden is an absolutely beautiful country with a very high standard of living. Stockholm produces the most unicorns per capita after silicon valley. Requirements for obtaining a residence permit are as follows:

• Application before your current permit expires
• Valid passport throughout your stay in Sweden
• Must have completed a higher education program that has lasted for at least two semester
• Your last residence permit must have been a residence permit for higher education in Sweden
• You must be seeking employment or starting a business
• Must have a healthcare insurance

Job Prospects in Sweden

Sweden’s economy is one of the most dynamic, diverse, and highly competitive in the world. According to the IMD Global Competitiveness Ranking 2022, Sweden is rated fourth. Sweden placed 63rd out of 63 economies, just behind Singapore, Switzerland, and Denmark. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2019, Sweden was one of the top ten most competitive countries in the world before the pandemic. According to the World Bank, Sweden’s economy is growing because of its openness and liberal approach to trade and doing business.

Popular Job Sectors in Sweden

Sweden is one of the richest and most beautiful countries in the world, therefore it is obvious to get in love with the country and wish to work and live here. Sweden is home to some of the biggest multinational companies in the world, including Volvo, Ikea, Spotify, and H&M. Swedish economy is based on foreign trade and some of the major industries of Sweden are;

• Iron and Steel
• Motor vehicles
• Precision equipment
• Processes food

Average Salary in Sweden

The average salary for Sweden alumni and graduates by job is given below.

Study in Sweden FAQs

• Q. What is the student visa processing time for Sweden?
  It takes time to process a student visa for Sweden. Sweden does not have a special kind of visa for students. Anyone seeking to stay in Sweden for more than 90 days is required to apply for a residence permit. The Swedish Migration Agency is responsible for accepting or rejecting your visa application. Therefore, your student visa applications are sent to Sweden. It usually takes around 90 days to process your visa application. Students are advised to apply for a student visa as early as possible. A Paper visa application takes much longer than an online application, hence students are advised to opt for an online application.
• Q. What is the cost of a student visa for Sweden?
  The Embassy of Sweden in India only cooperates with VFS Global in India and Nepal. The Schengen visa application fee is tied to the euro. From April 15, 2021, the visa application fee for Adults is €80, whereas for children (age 6-12) the visa application fee is €40. Citizens of countries that have signed visa facilitation agreements with the EU pay a reduced fee or are exempt from payment. Visits longer than 90 days require D Visa. The revised visa application fee from April 4, 2021, is €60. However, the visa application fee for children (age 0-6) is nil. The visitor’s permit for Adults is SEK 1,500 and for Children under 18 is SEK 750.
• Q. What is the quickest way to get a residence permit for Sweden?
  Students who are non-EU nationals and their course of study require them to stay in Sweden for more than 90 days, need to apply for a residence permit. However, if your course of study requires you to stay in Sweden for less than three months and you are not an EU citizen then you may need a visa instead. The fastest way to get a residence permit to study at universities and colleges in Sweden is to apply online. Since all the visa-related decisions are taken by Swedish Immigration Authority in Sweden all the online applications go directly to the Swedish Immigration Authority and are given priority. Meanwhile, if you do not wish to apply online or wish to study other than at university or college, you can submit your application documents at the Swedish Embassy in person.
• Q. Can I work while studying in Sweden?
  Yes, you can work while studying in Sweden. If you are pursuing a course longer than three months, then you are required to get a residence permit for Sweden. The residence permit of Sweden allows international students to work while studying. However, you should keep in mind that your working hours should not affect your study and you are able to perform better academically. Working for 20 hours a week is advisable for international students, as this is the norm all over the world for international students working while studying.
• Q. Is there any scholarship for international students in Sweden?
  Sweden is not cheap, it is one of the very expensive countries in the world for international students in terms of cost of living and cost of tuition. Therefore, the scholarship becomes one of the most desirable things for international students going to Sweden for higher education. There are several scholarships available to international students. Universities provide scholarships at their level to international students. There are several merits and need-based scholarships as well. Besides this, there are several external agencies which offer scholarships to international students.
• Q. What is a Schengen visa for Sweden?
  If the duration of your travel to Sweden is less than three months, then you are required to apply for a Schengen visa. A Schengen visa is issued for a maximum of 90 days. Schengen visa allows you to travel across all the countries of Schengen region. All the travellers are responsible for verifying the travel restriction in place before departure. A Schengen visa is not a guarantee for entry to Sweden or the Schengen area. The Border Police of Sweden determines whether an individual meets the entry conditions or not.
• Q. Is Sweden expensive for international students
  Yes, Sweden is expensive for international students. Actually, Sweden is one of the most expensive countries in Europe. The cost of living in Sweden is very high and that is because of its high standards of living. It is very hard to find any part-time job in Sweden and even if you do find a part time job, it may not be enough to cover all of your expenses. But you need to remember that you are there for study not for work. Also, there are a lot of scholarships available to international students.
• Q. What is the average tuition fee in Swedish universities?
   As we know, Sweden is very expensive and so are its universities. Swedish universities are very expensive for international students. Sweden is home to some of the best universities in the world. Swedish universities consistently rank feature among the top universities in world university rankings. Sweden is fast becoming the most sought-after destination for higher education among international students. Swedish universities on average charge ?10,00,000 to ?12,00,000 per year. However, the tuition fees depend on the course and program you to choose.