The cradle of the Nobel Prize winners and some of the most important companies such as Volvo, IKEA, Spotify, Soundcloud and Oriflame, it has one of the most efficient and respected educational systems in the world. Studying in Sweden is easier than you think. With thousands of programs taught in English, an innovative teaching method and few admission requirements, you will see that after reading this guide you will have no doubts about choosing Sweden as your academic destination.
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Studying in Sweden as a foreigner has so many advantages that it is difficult to list them all. From being one of the most just and equitable countries in the world , to one of the foremost in human development and environmental conservation, Sweden is an academic dream destination.This Nordic country with just over 10 million inhabitants tops the lists in terms of energy efficiency, education and satisfaction.
In addition, it is also recognized internationally for its equality of wealth, since it has the lowest salary difference between men and women in the world. And let’s not even talk about its natural beauty, because Sweden has some of the most beautiful landscapes in northern Europe.
Its Baltic forests, Scandinavian Alps, numerous lakes and medieval cities attract thousands of tourists every year. So, if you are thinking of studying in Sweden from Latin America or would like to offer this experience to your child, here are 5 excellent reasons to do so:
As a citizen of a Latin American country, you may need to apply for a visa or residence permit to study in Sweden . According to the Swedish Migration Agency, the visas and permits you may need are:
This means that if you are from a visa waiver country, you can study in Sweden for less than 3 months just by having a passport . Pretty interesting right? If you want to know if you need a visa or not, go to this link . Although Sweden is excellent at speaking English, there are many options available to learn Swedish.
There is a whole repertoire of summer, intensive and online courses to study the most widely spoken Germanic language in the country. Do you dare to be the next international student in Sweden? So keep reading that this guide is just beginning.
|
Shared room |
$1,091 |
|
|
Shared room |
$779 |
|
2 bedroom apartment |
$1,709 |
|
|
2 bedroom apartment |
$1,318 |
|
Bus or Metro ticket |
$3 / $6 |
|
Movie Ticket |
$16 |
|
A beer in a bar |
$8 |
|
A beer in the supermarket |
$2 |
|
Typical Street Food |
$10 |
|
Meal in a Restaurant |
$38 |
|
Medical consultation |
$29 |
|
Phone plans |
$4 |
|
Average Cost of Living per Month |
USD $,2394 |
We kick off this article about studying in Sweden as a foreigner by talking about the cost of living in this Scandinavian nation. As you can see in the table above, the estimated cost for a single person is $2,394 per month . Of course, this amount can vary in relation to various factors. One of them (and perhaps the most decisive) is the location. Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, and Gothenburg, are two of the most expensive cities to live in. In addition to the prices, they are also two of the cities that receive the most foreign students, so it can be a bit complicated to find a room. Renting an apartment or a shared room depends a lot on the area of the city and the type of housing. If you want to save as much as possible and reduce expenses as much as possible, the best option is to live in a student residence. Some universities offer this service, but there are also independent organizations that do it. In general, living and studying in Sweden is relatively accessible , although it all depends on each person’s resources. What no one can deny is that it is a smart investment that will mark your future and open hundreds of doors for you. University tuition costs an average of $15,198 per academic year . This does not make it the most expensive destination to study, but it does not make it the cheapest either. To balance the scale a bit, there are programs where you pay only $9,425 per year. You can find more information on this topic on this page .
If your heartbeat quickened when you read the approximate costs of living and studying in Sweden. There are plenty of scholarships for international students, sponsored by different institutions and organizations. Most only cover part or all of the tuition, but some even help students with living expenses. On the other hand, if you are a national of one of the EU or EEA countries, you are in luck, because like Swedish citizens, you will not have to pay tuition. If this is not your case, later we will show you the best scholarships that you could enjoy.
The experience of studying at the University in Sweden is something different from what we are used to seeing in Latin America or in other academic destinations, and that is precisely why it is so popular. Instead of putting pressure on students to pass, Swedish Universities are true centers of inspiration and motivation . Focused on learning and awakening the best in each student, Universities in Sweden are recognized worldwide for offering one of the most pleasant environments to study. To help you understand what your life could be like studying at one of these institutions, we present some of its main characteristics :
It goes without saying that several universities in Sweden are among the best in the world . International rankings such as the QS Top Universities and the Shanghai , have listed Stockholm University, the Karolinska Institute and Uppsala University as some of the most prestigious Swedish institutions.
To demonstrate your interest in receiving international students, Swedish Universities are not very demanding with admission requirements . In general, what you need to have to study a Bachelor’s degree is:
If you want more information about the requirements to study in Sweden according to the level of study and the program, open the following link .
Among the Institutions of Higher Education in Sweden there are also Colleges . The vast majority of these institutions are part of a University and share the same admission requirements. Others, such as the Stockholm University College of Music Education, are independent. Generally, the independent C olleges are dedicated to the formation of a particular area, such as Music and Art. For this reason, in addition to having a high school diploma and proving your command of English, you may need to take an admission test such as an audition.
Sweden makes things very easy for you so that you can study with them as soon as possible. To streamline the selection process for a program and institution, this country has a platform called University Admissions . In a few words, it is a database with all the programs available to foreigners, where you can apply for up to 8 different careers or programs. Do you want to do it now? Then watch the step by step.
Important. Most programs in English start in the fall semester (August), so you should start applying in the month of January. On the contrary, if the program starts in the spring semester (January), you must apply in August.
Among the universities where you can study are:
Do you want to study in the First World? Below we will tell you about the types of visas, their requirements and the process that you must carry out to achieve your dream and develop your academic potential to the fullest.
Would you like to study a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD in Sweden? Don’t you have nationality of an EU/EEA country? Then you need a Residence Permit for Higher Education. This permit is required if you plan to study in Sweden for more than 3 months. When we say “Residence Permit for Higher Education” we include all kinds of studies at that level, from programs at universities and colleges, to professional and post-secondary training. Nationals of countries that require a visa to enter Sweden must apply for a Schengen Visa in addition to this permit. Later on we will explain step by step what you will need to obtain this visa.
Important. This list of requirements is indicative and there may be changes depending on the country from which you apply or the type of program you are going to study in Sweden.
More information about this permission here .
Yes, a Residence Permit for Higher Education also allows you to work in Sweden while this permit is still valid.
To enter Sweden, like all the member states of the Schengen Area, some foreigners need to apply for a visa. This visa is commonly known as the Schengen Visa and is valid for up to 90 days . If you want to know if your nationality requires a visa to study in Sweden, go to this link . Remember that if you are from a nation that requires a Schengen Visa and you are going to study for more than 3 months in Sweden, you need to process the two documents that we mention in this guide: Residence Permit for Higher Education + Visa. On the other hand, if you checked the list of countries that require a visa and yours does not appear, you can study in Sweden for less than 3 months only by carrying a valid travel document.
More information about this visa here .
No, the Schengen Visa does not give you the right to work or look for a job in Sweden or in any other State of the Schengen Area.
The range of schools, academies and universities that teach Swedish to foreigners in Sweden is quite extensive. There are courses for all tastes and levels, and you can even start from home if you want to learn the language before traveling. Some of the institutes available are:
More information about studying Swedish in Sweden here .
To study this Germanic language in Sweden, the only general requirements are to pay the corresponding fee and apply for a visa/permit if necessary. If you have never studied Swedish in your life, the most logical thing to do is to enroll at the beginner level. On the other hand, if you have previous knowledge of the language, it is likely that you should take a test to find out what level corresponds to you.
As with Institutions of Higher Education, the process to get accepted to a language academy or school in Sweden is quite simple. Start the application on the official website of the institution that interests you, provide the necessary documents, pay the fee and start the process of your visa/permit (if applicable).
Do you want to learn Swedish in Sweden? This is great! But, at the moment, there is no specific visa for it. As you know, whether or not you need a visa will depend on your nationality. Also, if you are going to study this language for more than 3 months, you will also need a Residence Permit. However, the requirements to apply for this permit may be slightly different from those mentioned above, since it would not be a permit for Higher Education.
In Sweden they love international students so much, that they offer hundreds of scholarships for them. Many of the Swedish Universities that you saw in the previous list have scholarships that you can apply to if you meet the requirements. There are also support programs funded by other organizations and Swedish Institutes.
None of these scholarships suit your profile? Try looking for others here .
Your Residence Permit for Higher Education allows you to work in Sweden while you study, as long as the document is valid. The best part is that unlike other countries, there are no restrictions on the hours you can work . That definitely sounds great, but you must not forget that the main purpose of your trip is to study in Sweden. Also, finding a part-time job in this nation is not exactly easy. If you want to go looking for a part-time job, there is nothing to stop you, but keep in mind that it is very difficult for the salary to be enough to cover all your expenses. On the other hand, if what you want is to get to know the Swedish work culture, you can always do a Professional Internship . There are organizations such as AIESEC that offer internships to international students in order for them to gain experience and put into practice all the skills acquired in the classroom. Additionally, most universities also have their own internship programs at each faculty. Whatever the case, it is best to prepare a good resume, update your LinkedIn profile, apply early and… Be charismatic and confident!
Congratulations Graduate! If you have already completed your studies in Sweden, surely you were fascinated with the country, its people, its customs and its quality of life. If we hit the mark, you’ll be pleased to know that there are plenty of options for staying in this Scandinavian nation and finding a job. The first step would be to apply for a Residence Permit Extension to seek Employment after Graduation.
This extension gives you an extra 12 months after completing your studies to find a job in Sweden. You can even start preparations to create your own company if you wish. If you want to know more about what it’s like to work in Sweden or run a business, we recommend you visit the portal workinginsweden.se.
At Go Study In, we strive to write practical and complete guides that clarify all your doubts about studying abroad. If you still have questions or want more information about studying in Sweden or another destination, please fill out the following form and one of our expert advisors will contact you.
