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How to Study in Sweden – The Complete Guide

by Omale Philip
3 Mins Read
Are you curios about you studying in Sweden, Need to understand all it requires to study in Sweden, Considering start your study of a degree program in Sweden. This complete guide is for you read through and you will get a clear explanation, how to study in Sweden.




Reasons to Study in Sweden 

  • Challenging Coursework

The country Sweden, has a reputable academic excellence known over the years despite its relatively small population.The country higher education system is ranked among the best while a good number of it’s universities are ranked as been among the world best by the Times Higher Education and the Academic Ranking of World Universities.
Sweden as a country is a home for some of the world’s best universities. 

Higher Education in Sweden

The Swedish higher education system has no differences with other European countries. In Sweden, the higher education system grade institution into university (universitet) and university college (högskola).

Difference Between University  and University College?

To study in Sweden, you will attend a higher institution, Sweden higher institution are basically university (universitet) and university college (högskola). Both institution university and university college offers bachelor and master degree, the major difference is the award of PhD which is only given by a university and not university college. However, some university colleges do offer PhDs.
If you choose to study in Sweden, as an international student at a university or university college your experience will be similar regardless the institution type attended .

Degree programmes in Sweden

Degree programmes in Sweden universities are same standard with the Europe countries. The available programme are bachelor, master and PhD programmes.
A degree programme at Sweden university is made up of a number of courses in a particular field of study leading to a specific degree. When you apply for a degree programme, 
you will have t0 register for courses over the duration of your programme. Usually a mix of compulsory, recommended and optional courses will have to be taken.

Bachelor Degree Programmes

This is the first degree programme in a higher institution also known as undergraduate programmes, take place after (high school diploma) and are usually three years long (180 ECTS credits).
The bachelor degree is obtained before a master degree and is needed for master study 

Master Degree Programmes

Graduate programmes, such as master degree programme build’s upon the knowledge developed during bachelor studies. Master study takes one or two years long for completion. And finally the PhD programmes.

READ: Masters Study in Portugal | A 2019 Guide For Study in Portugal

Guides to Study in Sweden 

If you choose to study in Sweden, this guide will show you the steps to follow for your study.

Choose a programme

Visit universityadmissions.se to search for programmes. There are over 1,000 programmes for bachelor and master level that are offered in English at Sweden universityadmission.se and you will also find programme listings at the various universities’ own websites. 
Most universities, each year start publishing their programmes from October. The entire list of programmes that start during the autumn tends to be available in early December.)

READ: Study in Hungary | The College Guide

Apply Admission in Sweden 

How to apply

Once you have chosen a programme you want to study either at universityadmissions.se or university website, begin your application and ensure you start early. At universityadmissions.se you’ll find full application guidelines, including information on all of the documents you’ll need to include with your application.

READ: How to Apply For Study in Germany Universities


Laptop For Application


If you will need to show proof of your English language proficiency with a TOEFL or IELTS score and you have not take the test, make sure you apply for the test and  get a test score in advance of the application deadline.
The important part of preparing to study in Sweden, is the cost budget. An overview of the different costs will help you

Required Documents

Once you’ve chosen a few programmes that you’d like to apply for, it’s time to start preparing your application. At Universityadmissions.se you’ll find full application guidelines, including information on all of the documents you’ll need to include with your application.

List of Required Documents
  • Personal Statement
  • Academic Transcript
  • Letter of Recommendation 
  • Passport


Cost of Study – Fees

  • Application Fee

To apply into universities in Sweden for a study, application are made with an application fee for students who are not citizens of an EU/EEA/Nordic country or Switzerland.
For a study  of bachelor or masters program, the application fee is SEK 900. This fee is paid as part of your online application visit Universityadmissions.se.

Students in Sweden
Students with Sweden Flag


  • Tuition Fee

in Sweden vary depending upon the subject though the average fee for master’s programme is SEK 129,000/year while bachelor programmes are generally less expensive.
A standard range of tuition fees for various subjects is shown below though the exact level may vary.

Social sciences and humanities         ———————      SEK 80,000 – 110,000/year
Technical programmes and natural sciences    ———      SEK 120,000 – 145,000/year
Architecture and design            ——————–                  SEK 190,000 – 270,00

  • Living Cost

A student budget for a month varies depending on the residing location and apartment structure. An average monthly expenses for a student is about SEK 8,370. 

Academic calendar

The Swedish academic year is divided into two:
  • Autumn semester

This begins at the end of August and lasts until mid-January, usually with a short break at the end of December.
  • Spring semester

This runs from mid-January to the beginning of June

List of Sweden Universities Ranked Top

  • Uppsala University
  • Lund University
  • University of Gothenburg
  • Stockholm University
  • Karolinska Institutet
  • Umeå University
  • Royal Institute of Technology
  • Linköping University
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
  • Luleå University of Technology
  • Karlstad University
  • Örebro University
  • Mid Sweden University
  • Linnaeus University
  • Malmö University

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