Education In Sweden
The Complete Guide To Studying In Sweden

Did you know that international acclaimed companies like IKEA, TetraPak, Volvo and Ericsson took their roots in Sweden?
In earlier posts, we have exhaustively covered the procedures for higher studies in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Now we pay attention to a place that is lesser known in the international education sphere — Sweden.
Why Sweden?
With a population of just about 10 million people, Sweden has made efficient use of its resources to nurture minds from across the globe. Practical knowledge and its application is the basis of the education system in Sweden.
You may be surprised to know that in this Scandinavian country, investment in research is among the highest in the world. It is not a surprise that several Swedish universities have been highly ranked on the list issued by Times Higher Education and the ‘Academic Ranking Of World Universities’.
These illustrious rankings are due to the fact that students are not ‘spoon-fed’, that is, there is no sharing of passive information. The student will have to push through their inhibitions and take responsibility for their education, thereby making these students independent as well.
Sweden puts special emphasis on research involving the ‘Sustainability Of The Environment’ and it does practice what it preaches, accounting for the highest percentage of renewable energy sources in the EU, making it the ‘World’s Most Sustainable Country In The World’. Its 29 national parks offer conducive conditions for research coursework to thrive in and not to forget the picturesqueness it brings to Sweden.
Magnificent,isn’t it?
Let us now check the various visa considerations that you will have to account for in order to study in Sweden.
At this junction, it is important for us to discuss the various features of the ‘Schengen Agreement’ in Europe, because Sweden also features as a country which is a part of this agreement.
Schengen Agreement
Schengen Area, named after “the Schengen Agreement”, signifies a zone where 26 different European nations, acknowledged the abolishing of their internal borders with other member nations for the free and unrestricted movement of people, goods, services, and capital thereby strengthening the spirit of countries in Europe.
As per the Schengen Area, borders between European countries are only existent on maps. Over 400 million nationals of 26 member countries are given the freedom of traveling without passport checks within the numerous countries in the EU.
Sweden is one of the 26 member countries that have complied with this ‘Schengen Agreement’.
Visa Application for Sweden
A complete application must be submitted to the Swedish Embassy at least 15 days before the intended visit and cannot be lodged earlier than three months before the start of the intended visit.
General required documents for a Sweden Visa Application:
- 2 photos must be attached; the photo should be of passport format — a recent whole-face capture with a light background.
- Your passport and copies of your previous visas — valid for at least 3 months beyond return date — are required. Your passport must have at least two blank pages.
- A copy of your return-ticket reservation. It is not recommended to purchase the ticket before obtaining the visa — if not otherwise required.
- Travel health insurance confirmation of minimum 30,000€ coverage within Sweden and the entire Schengen area.
- A cover letter stating the purpose of visit to Sweden and itinerary.
- Flight ticket reservation with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from Sweden.
- Hotel booking reservation for the whole duration of the intended stay in Sweden.
- Proof of civil status (marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, ration card if applicable)
Students requiring a residence permit must, by law, demonstrate that they have funds of at least SEK 8, 064 per month of study.
Sweden Visa for Study, Training, Research, or other type of Internship Purposes:
- An enrolment certificate allowing attendance of courses
- Certificate of completion or courses attended
- Financial sustenance
(We at BridgEd manage all these tedious procedures for you, for free. Contact any of the BridgEd Mentors and they will be more than thrilled to help you understand your choices better.)
…………………………………………………………………………………
Did you know?
All vehicles on the road must have their headlights turned on, no matter the time of day!
…………………………………………………………………………………
Expenses
With the visa considerations out of the way, let us now take an overview of the expenses. Keep in mind that all the values have been mentioned in Swedish Kronas (kr).
Without further ado, let us now discuss the expenses that you may be expected to incur, while keeping up that ‘No-Carb’ diet. That is what is trending nowadays right?
(lol…I’m trying)
From food expenses to entertainment bills, we have formulated a basic structure of expenses that may be incurred.
Monthly expenses incurred= 4260 kr approx.
(If handling everything seems too overwhelming for you, you must try BridgEd. It is a platform where you can find programs, communicate and apply directly to institutions around the world. Get personal support for all related processes, for free!)
Another major element that forms a chunk of the total expenses is housing and accommodation.
Student Accommodation
Campus Residences
Most Swedish universities offer accommodation services for international students in their campuses. To avail these services, you could contact your institution for further details, regarding the monthly food expenses, housing rent and so forth. These hostels offer fully furnished single or twin-sharing rooms with basic amenities like laundry, dining and internet services.
Opting for this type of accommodation ensures that you can cut down on your transportation expenses. The numerous social activities that are held within the campus are sure to keep you occupied.
Apartments and Furnished Rooms
Another option that you may look into is that of apartments and furnished rooms. Finding accommodation in small and medium sized towns and cities is relatively easier and more affordable than in comparison to larger cities like Stockholm and Gothenburg. Traditional cities like that of Lund and Uppsala also pose problems in terms of availability of rooms and apartments. However, these flats provide its occupant with various amenities like ovens, washing machines, dishwashers and a clothes dryer.
The advantage of opting for these is that you lower your expenses as you split the rent with your flatmate. Let me illustrate this with the help of the following figures:
- 900 sq.ft furnished apartments range from anywhere between 11,500 SEK to 18,000 SEK depending on the locality of the residence.
- Cost of utilities (electricity, telephone bills, etc) for 2 people adds up to about 900 SEK.
However, a smaller furnished apartment reduces the rent as well as the cost of the utilities too!
- 480 sq.ft furnished apartments range from anywhere between 8,500 SEK to 13,000 SEK depending on the locality of the residence.
- Cost of utilities (electricity, telephone bills, etc) for 2 people adds up to about 600 SEK.
Please be aware of fraudsters!
Never send a payment before you’ve seen the flat and signed a contract, and don’t send money through anonymous payment services. Always ask to see identification for the person signing the contract as well as proof that he or she has the right to rent out the flat to you!
Residence Halls
Majority of the international students residing in Sweden opt to live in a student residence hall more commonly known as a dormitory. As a student, such a space also provides a great opportunity for you to forge strong relationships with other students from all over the world.
Facilities And Amenities
Most residence halls have 10–15 single rooms in each corridor, often with a shared television room and kitchen. In some cases, rooms will have en-suite toilets, while others may have shared facilities for the corridor. Female and male students live in the same corridor.
Rent
For a student room or a room in a student flat, monthly rent ranges between roughly SEK 2,500 and SEK 6,500, with smaller towns at the lower end of the scale and Stockholm at the high end.
To sum this section up, you as a student can choose to live on campus or you can opt to move into a furnished apartment in a locality of your choice. You can also opt for the residence halls which provide a great space for interaction.
Let us now discuss the opportunities for fellowships and funds that will help us fund our dreams of education in Sweden.
Scholarship Opportunities:
In Sweden, the scholarships can be segregated into two groups: one which is funded by the Swedish Government and the other which is locally funded by the various institutions. Let us discuss the scholarships aided by the state.
Government Scholarships
The Swedish government has provided for various means to aid international students to fund their education while in the country.
Swedish Institute Study Scholarship
These scholarships are aimed to facilitate highly qualified students who wish to pursue their full time master’s degree studies from Sweden. These funds cover for both, the living costs as well as the tuition fees of the awardee.
For more information regarding this scholarship and the various other benefits it possesses, visit the official webpage for this scholarship by the Swedish government.
The Visby Programme Scholarships:
This programme provides scholarships for students at the Masters level and for those who wish to pursue their Masters from Sweden. Students of the following countries are eligible to apply for this particular scholarship:
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Ukraine
- Georgia
- Belarus
- Moldova
- Russia
In addition of covering for the tuition fees, living expenses (up to 9,000 SEK per month) and insurance cover, it also provides for a one time travel grant of 5,000 SEK!
University Scholarships For International Students
Lund University Global Scholarship Programme
This programme is targeted towards those students that have achieved academic excellence but however are citizens of non-EU/non-EEA (and Switzerland) and thereby are required to pay substantial tuition fee.
These scholarships are available for both Bachelor’s And Master’s level studies and may cover from 25% — 100% of the tuition fee.
More on the prestigious Lund University
One of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious universities, the Lund University ranks consistently among the world’s top 100 technical universities. Boasting of faculties in areas such as Humanities and Theology, Engineering and Fine Arts, the campus buzzes all year round with around 42,000 students indulged in over 276 educational programs. The Lund University was awarded 90th position on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings in the year 2015, another feather in this illustrious institutions cap.
With groundbreaking research facilities in important areas of research such as nanotechnology, climate change and so forth, this University is a top performer in the EU in terms of papers accepted for publication in scientific journals.
Bertil Ohlin, Manne Siegbahn and Tage Erlander being some of the alumni of this prestigious institution, it is hard to flaw this university and even harder to point out a reason as to why anyone would not like to be a part of such an absorbing heritage.
(BridgEd has tied up with Lund University to offer programs, tackle queries and accept admissions for students. Do not hesitate to reach out! )
…………………………………………………………………………………
Did you know?
So the ‘fika’ is a coffee break that normally consists of coffee or tea, cookies or sweet buns, but can also include soft drinks, fruit and sandwiches: a social institution and an important part of the Swedish culture. You can ‘fika’ (it’s a verb as well as a noun) with your family or on your first date!
………………………………………………………………………….
Places you must visit in Sweden
Every traveller’s paradise with the fresh air reminiscent of the historical links to the country, Sweden marks one of the most picturesque countries of the Scandinavian region.
You must visit the Drottningholm palace in Stockholm. With live performances during the months of summer, the stunning stage settings and the frivolous costumes ensure a wonderful experience. You must also visit the many islands that form a part of Stockholm - over 30,000 islands spread over the Baltic Sea, it surely is an abode for travellers!
The famed Lieseberg Theme Park in Gothenburg is one of the most popular destinations of Sweden, accounting for more than 4 million visitors every year. With thrilling fast paced rides, roller coasters and other attractions, you can enjoy a weekend getaway with your loved ones here.
If sightseeing is your thing then do not miss out on the Lund Cathedral, one of the most famous cathedrals in Sweden. It’s Romanesque style of architecture and its pillars adorned with carved figures surely do make up a great composition for photographs!
All in all, Sweden is provides all round conditions for a great education, with world class research facilities that enable you to unlock your true potential to be the best you can be.
The Swedish phrase ’livsnjutare’ roughly translates to someone who lives his life deeply and to the extreme, holding no regrets. That is exactly the kind of vibe and the spirit of living that Sweden embodies and celebrates in its culture.
Livsnjutare!
BridgEd is a platform for students to independently find programs, communicate and apply directly to institutions around the world. Get the best personal support for all processes for free and many other benefits for your higher studies abroad.

