Course Finder
Blog
Login

The Ultimate Guide to Study in Sweden 2021

Written by  Rachit Agrawal, MBA

Published on Sat, May 4, 2019 11:55 AM   Updated on Thu, December 30, 2021 5:54 AM   8 mins read
Source: Harnoor Singh

Sweden is a country that is known for its universities that provide excellent academics as well as for its proficient inventions that help students build a great career. There’s a lot more than Sweden has to offer, along with cultural rendezvous, outdoor locations and lip-smacking delicacies.

Sweden is a country that leaves every visitor spellbound. It also offers more than 1000 programs taught in English across 53 Swedish universities to students coming from all over the world.

Why to Study in Sweden?

There are many reasons why Sweden is a great choice to pursue further education. Some of the reasons are as follows:

  • Most of the courses in Sweden deal with high-end research and cutting edge technology.
  • Students can avail themselves scholarships up to 100% tuition fees.
  • Peaceful country with minimum pollution, efficient public transportation and beautiful cities
  • All taught courses to undergo rigorous quality control.
  • Regardless of nationality, education is made affordable for students by the universities by subsidizing tuition fees for all students.
  • A large number of courses are taught in English.
  • An excellent international environment is created by the universities.
  • In terms of inventions, Sweden is one of the technically strong countries.
  • Three Swedish universities make it to the top 3 of the 100 best universities in the world.
  • Sweden has one of the strongest economies in the world.
  • Sweden is also the birthplace of many multinational companies such as Volvo, Scania, Ericsson, Tetrapak Ikea, H&M, Electrolux, etc.

Study In Sweden Indian Students

Sweden is a great place for Indian students to look for pursuing their higher education, especially because of their large number of scholarships and lower tuition fees when compared to other European countries.

Sweden also provides an option of forgoing IELTS and GRE test scores if the students are STEM graduates.


Check Out: Study abroad for free


Study In Sweden Cost

For EU students living in Sweden, the tuition fee is free. However, International students are required to pay for all the expenses, from living expenses to application fees. The following table gives an approximate amount that students will have to pay during their study in Sweden.

ExpenditureCost (in SEK)
Admission Application900
Undergraduate Tuition fees75,000 to 440,000/yr
MS program80,000 to 130,000/yr
MBA program81,200 to 495,000/yr
Living Cost8514

While the tuition fees for studying in Sweden is affordable, living cost is slightly higher. 

Cost Of Study in Sweden for Indian Students

The main factor that amounts to expenses in Sweden is the tuition fee. Tuition fee varies depending upon the type, University, course and international reach and research community. Depending on the University and course, the tuition fee can cost between SEK 90,000 to SEK 140,000/year (INR 7,70,000- 12,00,000).

Sweden is a rich hub for international students to pursue their higher education. The cost of undergraduate programs differs between courses and universities. The average fee in Sweden costs SEK 129,000 (INR 11,00,000) per year for an undergraduate degree. A degree in Science and Humanities can cost between SEK 80,000 – 110,000 per year (INR 70,00,000- 9,50,000) while architecture or design can range from SEK 190,000 – 295,000 per year (INR 16,25,000- 25,25,000).

Apart from undergraduate studies, Sweden is also famous for its research firms for PG and Doctoral studies, along with their excellent educational setup. The tuition fee for a PD degree can cost anywhere between SEK 220,000-295,000 (INR 18,80,000- 25,25,000). However, the cost of studying in Sweden is comparatively lesser than in other European institutes.

The average cost of living in some of the major cities in Sweden are as follows:

CityCost per month
Gothenburg and StockholmApproximately 1,250 EUR (INR 1,09,900) 
Linkoping and LundApproximately 850 EUR (INR 74,700)
UppsalaApproximately 1,200 EUR(INR 1,05,500) 

Study in Sweden Requirements

Irrespective of their nationality and program, international students have a set procedure to follow: –

  1. Find out more about your chosen University and course from universityadmissions.se
  2. Entry requirements for international students can be found out on the website
  3. Online application for admissions can be filled and submitted at the Central Swedish Application system
  4. The supporting documents to be sent to the University are to be arranged

Supporting Documentation to be submitted are as follows:

Basic requirements such as Transcripts, Resume

Tests required depending on the course and University – GMAT/GRE

English language Proficiency Tests (if required) – Equivalent to English course 6

Additional requirements, if needed such as Relevant work/research experience, required thesis (Ph.D.), motivational letter, other relevant programs, Mathematical requirements (for bachelor’s). 

Study in Sweden Scholarships

International students have the opportunity to apply for a large number of scholarships which further reduces the tuition fees by a significant amount. The following table lists out the universities and the scholarships available.

Scholarship NameName of UniversityAward
Halmstad University ScholarshipHalmstad University25%-50% tuition fees
Linnaeus University ScholarshipLinnaeus University75% tuition fees
Kristianstad University ScholarshipKristianstad UniversityFull/partial tuition fees
KTH India ScholarshipKTH Royal Institute of TechnologyTuition fees for 2 years
Lund University Global ScholarshipLund University25%-100% tuition fees

Study in Sweden Without IELTS

Students with a degree where English is the main language of teaching and the degree is equivalent to a Swedish kandidatexamen can pursue their higher education in Sweden. It is also to be noted that if the student requires two degrees to meet the education criteria set by the University to reach an equivalent Swedish kandidatexamen, for example, a 2-year bachelor’s degree and a 2-year master’s degree, then both the degrees have to have been taught in English.

Study in Sweden Masters

In Sweden, master degrees are often offered as one year or two-year degree courses. Usually, this consists of 25% of thesis work and 75% of the coursework.

Depending on the discipline, the thesis will normally be a substantial practical exercise or independent research task just like in other countries. Swedish universities also often facilitate work at other organizations or companies as they have close ties with the industry.

The ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) is used by the Swedish Universities and Masters degrees are worth. 

Sweden uses the with Masters degrees being worth 60 or 120 ECTS credits, depending on the length of the courses.

Some of the popular Masters programmes in Sweden are as follows:

  • Architecture masters in Sweden.
  • Biology masters in Sweden.
  • Biomedical Engineering masters in Sweden.
  • Chemistry masters in Sweden.
  • Chinese Language masters in Sweden.
  • Environmental Science masters in Sweden.
  • Fine Art masters in Sweden.
  • Geography masters in Sweden.

The top universities in Sweden that offers masters degrees are as follows:

UniversityQS World Ranking (2021)
Lund University97
KTH Royal Institute of Technology98
Stockholm University181
University of Gothenburg202
Uppsala University124
Chalmers University of Technology139
Umea University333
Linköping University362

Best Course to Study in Sweden

Technological courses are some of the most sought-after courses in Sweden and some of the best courses to study in Sweden are as follows:

  • The finance program
  • Game Designer
  • Game Programmer
  • Indie Game Developer 
  • Portfolio Course
  • Advanced Bartending Course
  • The technology program
  • The Social Sciences program.

Study in Sweden visa

To study at any Swedish University, International students are required to obtain the Swedish Residency Permit (student visa). The following documents are required for the processing of the student visa.

  • A valid passport having a minimum validity of 6 months (at the time of application)
  • Class X/XII or Bachelor’s mark sheet (mark list from previous institution)
  • Enrollment letter from chosen University
  • Certification of finances such as
  • Scholarship letter
  • Bank loan receipt
  • Bank statement
  • Health insurance
  • A visa application essay on “Why you want to study in Sweden?”

Students must note that the entire visa process will cost around 1000 SEK (11 USD) and take up to 90 days. 

FAQs

✅ Is Sweden good for International Students?

Ans. Sweden is a really great destination for international students. Students can choose over 90 Bachelors and 900 Masters degrees amongst a wide variety of English taught disciplines and courses. Another added advantage is free education for students from Switzerland or EU/EEA.

✅ How to study in Sweden from India?

Ans. To apply for universities in Sweden, students hailing from India can apply through the Swedish University Application website. The requirements will vary with course, universities and specializations.

✅ Is Sweden a good place to study?

Ans. One of the best higher educations is offered by Sweden. The Nordic country puts more importance on independent study and group work instead of lectures and thus has an excellent education system. Responsibility and freedom are the main values that aid in the development of the students.

✅ Is IELTS required for Sweden student visa?

Ans. For study visa in Sweden, there is no particular language requirement. The universities might require proof of language proficiency depending on which language medium the previous course was carried out in and this will vary depending on University. The Swedish Migration Agency will only ask for the university acceptance letter for processing of the student visa.

✅ Is it easy to get job in Sweden?

Ans. Sweden is one the best countries to live and to work. A large number of opportunities for career and opportunities for growth and personal advancement to its residents are present in Sweden. How it might take a bit of effort and time before you land the perfect job in Sweden.

About the Author & Expert

Avatar

Rachit Agrawal

Author • MBA • 20 Years

Rachit believes in the power of education and has studied from the top institutes of IIIT Allahabad, IIM Calcutta, and Francois Rabelias in France. He has worked as Software Developer with Microsoft and Adobe. Post his MBA, he worked with the world's # 1 consulting firm, The Boston Consulting Group across multiple geographies US, South-East Asia and Europe.

Related Posts

Comments (0)