Undergraduate Studies in Sweden

Sweden, the birthplace of the Nobel prize, is emerging as a study destination for higher education for international students. Sweden offers a high-quality, flexible, and unconventional education system. Degree programs allow students to do practical work along with their studies. The system emphasizes individual learning and focuses on the students’ academic interest rather than grades. As a result, Swedish universities prepare students to succeed in the future. They teach them to be innovative and perceptive team players.

The top 5 universities in Sweden according to the 2023 QS World University Rankings are:

KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Lund University, Chalmers University of Technology, Uppsala University and Stockholm University.

What undergraduate courses are available in Sweden?

International students can have their pick from the 142 bachelors degree programs offered in English. These programs range from STEM programs to Fine Arts and Humanities degree programs. In general international students do not need to learn the local language (Swedish) to study in Sweden.

What are the costs?

International students from Non EU/ EEA countries are required to pay the tuition fees. In some universities, the maximum cost for 3 years of study could be 550,000 SEK (approx USD 57,000 as per 2023). This is a fraction of the tuition cost in the USA and UK.

Students from EU/ EEA/Switzerland are not required to pay any tuition fees.

What are the application deadlines?

Sweden has two intakes: the Autumn intake and the Spring intake. There are two rounds in the application process for both the Autumn and the Spring intake. The first round is for the non-EU/ EEA students while the second round is for the EU/EEA students.

International students from non EU/ EEA countries who are still pursuing their high school are unable to apply to Sweden for the Autumn intake as they require their final high school results to apply. So they should apply for the Spring intake after receiving their high school results. Students who have completed their high school in the previous year can apply for the Autumn intake.

What are the General Requirements for studying in Sweden?

1. Academic Transcripts

The following diplomas/certificates meet the criteria:

• Higher Secondary Certificate Examination

• Intermediate Examination Certificate

• All India Senior School Certificate Examination

• Pre-University Education Certificate

• Indian School Certificate (ISC)

• Certificate of Vocational Education (CVE)

• Polytechnic Diploma/Diploma Examination Certificate

A High School examination certificate with Statement of Marks issued by a nationally recognised Board is required. For each course, an academic score of 66% and above in Standard XII is required.

A passing grade in Mathematics is required to meet the general entry requirements for Bachelor’s level studies.

2. Identification Document

To speed up the processing of the students application, a copy of the page in the students’ passport with their personal data and photograph, or a similar identification document is required.

3. English Proficiency Tests

A list of English proficiency tests along with the minimum score requirements are given below

International students can also prove their English proficiency through one of the following:

• Grades in English and at least three other subjects with English as the language of instruction stated on the students official upper secondary certificate.

• Grades in English that are issued by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE).

• Grades in English that are issued by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) from 2008 and onwards.

What are the Specific Requirements to study in Sweden?

Most courses and programmes have specific entry requirements in addition to the general requirements. These are often linked to the area of study. For example, an economics course may require a higher level in mathematics.

Some universities may require other documentation, such as letters of motivation, essays, recommendation letters, etc. For example: Stockholm School of Economics requires students to submit additional documents like CV/ Resume and Letter of Motivation to apply to their BSc program in Business & Economics.

Is there a common application portal?

In Sweden there is a common portal for international students. This portal is called Universityadmissions.se.

• Students need to create an account.

• Select the universities as well as the different programmes offered.

• Rank the courses with 1 being the most desirable program and 5 being the least desirable course.

• Application fee of 900 SEK to be paid before 1st February.

• After submitting your application, you must submit your education documents to University Admissions. What you need to send in, and how, can vary depending on your country of study.

What are the opportunities of higher education in Sweden?

Professional qualifications are vocational training courses that relate to a specific industry or career path. Some can be taken directly after graduation, while others are aimed at professionals with several years of experience who are looking to develop their careers further.

Studying a Masters in Sweden means having the opportunity to live and study in a country that has always valued individual and collective intellectual endeavor. Swedish universities are free to structure their own courses and programmes as they choose and there is a vast array of Masters courses on offer. There are more than 1400 English-language Masters degrees to choose from. A Masters in Sweden can either be a one-year or two-year degree. Usually this will include about 75% coursework and 25% research for a thesis project.

As a doctoral student in Sweden, you will not only be well prepared for a successful career as an independent researcher, but you will also have the possibility to publish your work independently during your studies and to gain significant teaching experience. PhD positions provide students with a unique opportunity to cultivate their interest in a particular area of research and make an important contribution to the development of new knowledge.

What are the job opportunities?

A degree from Sweden is highly valued by employers worldwide as the top 5 universities also feature in the world’s top 150 universities. There are plenty of opportunities during your study period in Sweden to build an international network, which can help you in your future job search, regardless of where in the world you wish to work. After graduation, it is recommended that you look for opportunities globally and do not limit your job search to Sweden. Being an international graduate and having both local knowledge and insight into Swedish culture and society makes you an especially attractive candidate for positions at Swedish (and other European) companies operating globally.

EU/EEA citizens are allowed to move to Sweden freely to study or work and students can stay after their studies to look for jobs in Sweden. Non-EU/EEA students who have finished their studies and wish to stay in Sweden to find a job can apply for an ‘after studies’ residence permit once they have graduated. This permit allows students to stay for a limited time to look for work in Sweden. The permit is valid for twelve months.

All things considered, Sweden provides many advantages to international students pursuing bachelor’s degrees. The high quality of education, a truly welcoming society, and a relatively straightforward application process make Sweden a wonderful place to start college.