Study In Sweden

Sweden is the birthplace of the Nobel Awards, the highest recognition accorded in mankind. It is the land of the Vikings. It produces great DIY furniture thanks to IKEA. It’s the homeland of incredibly useful inventions such as the Zipper and Tetra Pack, not to forget the famed rock and roll band ABBA and even Absolut Vodka! To top all this, this incredible country has one of the greatest citizen welfare systems in the world and an extremely affordable higher education system. Sweden is emerging as the new world leader in technology, manufacturing and industrial advancement, offering higher education courses designed to shape students into future inventors, pathbreakers, and fearless entrepreneurs.

Understanding Education in Sweden

The academic year is split into autumn and spring semesters. The majority of courses and study programs start in the autumn. The autumn semester starts at the end of August and continues until mid-January of the following year. The spring semester usually starts in January and finishes at the end of June. Swedish higher education is part of the Bologna Process, which is intended to coordinate higher education in Europe and increase student mobility, so students can move freely between different countries and universities. Though Swedish education is funded through Government revenue, from 2011 however, tuition fees have been introduced for students from outside the European Union and Switzerland. There are 14 Public Universities and 17 Public University Colleges in Sweden. There are also many independent institutions of higher education. The Government allows three of these independent institutions – Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, the Stockholm School of Economics and Jönköping University – to offer instruction at all levels as well as a variety of vocational qualifications. Almost all Swedish courses require full-time study, or 40 hours every week as they are rigorous and follow the high European standard of education.

Visit this official university admissions page to search for Bachelor and Master’s degree programs level offered in English.

Life in Sweden

With its emphasis on independent studies, Sweden is ranked among the world leaders in higher education. Sweden stands out with its unique approach to higher education with the motto ‘freedom with responsibility’. This allows and encourages students to pursue their own courses and design them as per their needs .University unions are the hub of student activity and they provide marvelous insights into the culture and activities that you can pursue in your town/city. Outdoor sports (such as football, hockey, handball, hiking, ice skating, and skiing) and community activities are a highly celebrated thing in Swedish culture. In larger cities such as Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmo the cultural and food scene are very vibrant.

Admissions process in Sweden

The admissions process in Sweden depends on the individual universities, but in general, it is streamlined.

Standardized Tests
University/Course Selection
Document Preparation
Application for Scholarships
Application Review and Submission
Interview Preparation
Visa Counselling
Pre-Departure Bookings and Information
Arrival in the Sweden and Acclimatization

To find out more details about the process click here.

Scholarship opportunities in Sweden

There are many scholarship opportunities in Sweden for international students to help cover tuition fees or living costs. Scholarships in Sweden can broadly be classified into 3 categories:

Swedish Institute Scholarships: This is a government agency that differs scholarships each year to international students.
Scholarship competitions: Lund University, for example, hosts the prestigious The Lund 350 Degree Scholarship where in students get to compete for scholarships worth a total of €350,000. The scholarship can be applied to more than 100 international master’s programs at Lund.

Other private and university-funded scholarships: Apart from a number of private organizations promoting higher education, individual Universities offer several scholarships to local and international students.

Eligibility exams for sweden

In Sweden, you can also apply for admission to a higher education institution by taking the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test (Högskoleprovet), which measures knowledge and skills of various kinds. Proficiency in the test shows how well equipped the applicant is to perform at the university level. This test takes place in Sweden and students wanting to pursue higher education must always have completed their upper secondary education. However, they can apply on the basis of their test results instead of their final school grades.

English proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL are required at both Bachelors and Masters level.

Work and study in sweden

Sweden does not have an official limitation on the hours of work for international students. However, studies and academic work will require a minimum of 40 hours generally. Career services in universities can help you find your work assignments/part-time jobs.

You can extend your residence permit for up to 6 months after your course completion to look for full-time work in Sweden. Once you receive a job offer from a company, your employers will have to apply for a work permit. For more details on this visit the Swedish Migration Agency Website

Sweden residence permit information

International students will need a Swedish visa or Residence Permit. We advise all students who have been accepted by a Swedish University to apply for visas as early as possible. This is because visa decisions are taken by the Swedish Migration Authority in Sweden, not the local Embassy, and hence can take time. Due to staffing restrictions during July and August the Embassy has limitations on accepting interviews. Contact your AEC counselor for further details.

Documents for Sweden Visa

Acceptance letter from the University in Sweden
2 recent passport photographs
Passport and 2 copies of the passport (validity minimum 6 months)
2 Copies of educational degrees; university/college/high school etc (attested by the Foreign Ministry)
1 Letter of confirmation from the sponsor of the studies & copy
2 copies of bank statements providing proof of funds for the entire study period, and a certificate from the bank showing the amount in US dollars, Euro, UK Pounds or Swedish kronor
Health Insurance for students whose studies will not last more than 1 year

All documents should be shown in original at the time of applying at the Embassy.

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