Study in Sweden

Higher Education Structure in Sweden

Study In Sweden

Sweden is the fifth largest country in Europe by land area. It is home to more than 10 million people, with a quarter of them living in the capital city of Stockholm.  It is one of the leading global voices in the move towards sustainability and carbon neutrality and is associated with the most prestigious scientific award in the world: the Nobel Prize. Most of the larger universities in Sweden offer several courses taught in the English language; this and the unparalleled job opportunities in the country make it a popular haven for international students.

The vast majority of Sweden’s land area is unspoiled; most of its residents live in the ten largest cities. Forests, rivers, and lakes cover a majority of the country and are popular sites for camping trips. Sweden guarantees a very high quality of life to its citizens and ranks in the top ten on many development indices, including HDI and per capita GDP. Its Universities provide education in a wide variety of disciplines at every level. Sweden has experienced more than two uninterrupted centuries of peace within its borders.

The Perks of Studying in Sweden

Sweden is highly ranked on several important indices for students and residents. Some highlights include:

  • The country is ranked #8 in the world in the US News “Best Countries for Education” report.
  • The country is ranked #26 in the world in the “Safest Countries in the World” ranking by the World Population Review.
  • The country is ranked #18 in the world by GDP per capita (PPP).
  • The country is ranked #10 in the world according to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report.

Higher Education Framework in Sweden

There are three main kinds of Higher Education Institutions in Sweden:

  • Universities: These are similar to academic and research universities in other countries.
  • University Colleges: These do not typically award Doctoral Degrees, they often award professional degrees and diplomas.
  • University Colleges of Fine, Applied, and Performing Arts.

Together, these Institutions offer first, second, and third cycles of higher education to their students. The shortest long term degrees are one year long, and the longest degrees are usually professional in nature, and last five years.

Diploma Programs

University Colleges in Sweden offer two-year Diploma programs for students who have completed a course of secondary high school education. These are designed to give students the professional qualifications needed to join a full-time job in the industry, while still giving them enough academic exposure to rejoin the higher education system at a later stage. Higher Education Diplomas in Sweden require the completion of 120 credits, as compared to Bachelor’s degrees, which normally have 180 credits.

Undergraduate Programs

The most common undergraduate program in Sweden leads to the award of a Bachelor’s degree. They normally last three years, though students can choose to complete their 180 credits early or take up additional courses to earn Honours degrees. Bachelor’s degrees focus on fundamental coursework and an appreciation of the overall context of the chosen undergraduate major. The Swedish higher education system is highly flexible; which means that many students only choose their major in their junior undergraduate (third) year. They are therefore able to make informed choices about their Bachelor’s thesis once they know more about their subject and have completed more than 15 courses.

Professional Bachelor’s degrees may last between 3 and 5 years and include a practical training component where students spend at least one semester working with a company.

Postgraduate Programs

Master’s degrees in Sweden can last either one or two years. The one-year postgraduate degree acts as an extension to the undergraduate qualification and is either a Thesis year that fits on top of an existing Honours degree, or a program that focuses on coursework rather than guided research. 

Master’s degrees in Sweden that last two years are very similar to postgraduate degrees in other countries. The coursework is carefully chosen to ensure specialisation in one area of the overall discipline, and the Master’s Thesis introduces the student to basic research techniques and data analysis.

Doctoral Programs

There are two kinds of degrees in the third cycle of University education in Sweden. The Licentiate degree is intermediate between Master’s and Doctoral qualifications; it lasts two years and its graduates are ready to start full-time research towards a PhD.

Doctoral degree programs in Sweden either last 4 years for Master’s graduates or 2 to 3 years for Licentiate degree holders. PhD candidates in Sweden are expected to carry out original research leading to a Thesis defence. There are almost 18,000 Doctoral students studying in Swedish universities, carrying out cutting-edge research in several different fields of science, technology, the arts, and the humanities.

Popular Disciplines Available in Sweden

The country has various universities that offer approximately all the disciplines of study. Some of the popular disciplines available in Sweden are-

Product DesignRenewable EnergyGraphic and Computer Aided Design
Peace and Conflict StudiesArtificial IntelligenceInternational Relations
Textile DesignCommunication TechnologyAnalytical Finance
Chamber MusicData MiningGame Design
Landscape ManagementVisual CommunicationEuropean History
Tourism ManagementIndustrial EngineeringFashion Design

Popular Cities with Most number of Universities in Sweden

Here are some popular cities that have the most universities in Sweden.

The Name of the City No. of Universities 
Stockholm8
Uppsala3
Gaevle2
Gothenburg1
Umea1
Linkoping1
Solna1
Karlstad1
Malmo1
Orebro1
Ostersund1
Vaxjo1

Average Monthly Expenses in Sweden for International Students

Monthly living costs vary widely based on the city in which the student is based and on the type of accommodation. On average, student housing costs between 350 and 500 Euros per month, with monthly rents in smaller cities setting 20% - 30% below this amount. Food costs add up to approximately 200 Euros per month, and transport, phone, internet, and shopping costs rarely exceed 250 Euros per month.

When applying for a Residence Permit, students must show records of a bank account with a balance equivalent to 850 Euros per month to meet the average living costs in a Swedish city.

Tuition fees in Swedish Universities are substantially higher than those in many other highly-ranked European Universities. They vary widely by type of course, but the average annual tuition fees for undergraduates are usually above 4,000 Euros per year, and certain Master’s programs are associated with tuition fees that are above 10,000 Euros per year. Most international students in Sweden need to apply for scholarships to pay all or part of their tuition fee.
 

Students' Visa Requirements

Applications for long-term Swedish student visas are normally submitted online, through the Study in Sweden Government website. However, they can also be submitted physically to the nearest Swedish embassy. The following forms and documents must be uploaded as part of the process.

The status of the online student visa application can be tracked via the website; upon receiving an email if the application is successful, students can travel to the nearest Swedish Embassy or Consulate and collect the visa and Residence Permit. After reaching Sweden, the student must visit the Swedish Migration Agency to submit biometric information and be photographed. Resident Permits are usually issued for a year at a time and have to be renewed annually.

Here is the list of documents students need to have to apply for a student visa in Sweden.
  • Visa Application Form.
  • Valid Passport.
  • Passport Photos.
  • Letter of Acceptance from a Swedish educational institution.
  • Proof of Sufficient Funds.
  • Health Insurance.
  • Visa Fee Payment. 
  • Academic Transcripts and Certificates.
  • Statement of Purpose (motivation letter).
  • Proof of Accommodation in Sweden.
  • Flight Itinerary.
  • Proof of Language Proficiency (usually in Swedish or English).
  • Birth Certificate.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Students who are applying online for a Swedish student visa and residence permit must pay application fees of 1,500 SEK, or approximately 140 Euros. This amount can be paid using an international debit or credit card.

Two photographs of the candidate must be submitted during the Swedish student visa application process. These must be passport size (35 mm by 44 mm). They must be recent (taken within six months of the application date). The applicant’s head and shoulders must fill the picture, with a light coloured monochromatic background.

Sweden has a slightly higher student visa rejection rate than other European countries; applications are scrutinised very carefully. Most rejections take place because of errors made while filling the online application or invalid documents uploaded to the system. If the candidate has a criminal record (disclosed or undisclosed), the application may be rejected out of hand. In case the rejection is due to a small error in the application form or a missing document, the student can pay the Residence Permit fees again and submit a fresh online application. In case the second application conforms to the Swedish Migration Agency rules, an entry visa and Residence Permit will be issued. However, in case the student feels that the reason given for rejection is inadequate, he or she can file an appeal against the decision. A written appeal must be submitted to the nearest Swedish Embassy within 3 weeks of receipt of the rejection email. This must refer to the reason given for rejection, and clearly present logical arguments in favour of the visa being issued instead. Any documents that might support the appeal can be attached. The Embassy may directly change the decision in case the supplementary information shows the application in a new light. If not, the appeal is sent to the Administrative Court in Gothenburg, which hears the matter and contacts the applicant directly with its decision.

International Students in Sweden can use their Residence Permits to apply for part time employment. There is no law that restricts the total number of hours of work; however, the heavy academic workload in most Universities ensures that most students only have a few hours left per day to spend on work. In addition to part time employment during the semester, many international students in Sweden take up summer and winter internships to gain experience and supplement their earnings with higher full time stipends.