Hello and welcome to an intro on higher education in Sweden! If you’re an international student looking to study in Sweden, read on!
- There are two types of educational institutions in Sweden: universities and university colleges. Both types consist of public and private institutes. Which type you should choose depends on your degree program and your field of study. Knowledge of Swedish is not compulsory. You can enrol in tons of undergraduate and postgraduate programs which are taught entirely in English!
- Sweden has adopted a three-cycle degree system established by the Bologna process where a Bachelor’s program general takes 3 years, a Master’s takes 1-2 years and a PhD around 4 years. There is even an option to take a Licentiate degree after 2 years of doctoral studies. Most universities in Sweden are public. Even in public universities, Bachelors and Masters education in Sweden is not free if you’re not from the EU/EEA and Switzerland. In private universities the cost is higher. However, this applies to only degree seeking students. Exchange students from anywhere are exempt from paying fees, so that’s something to keep in mind! Also note, that doctoral studies in Sweden are free regardless of where you’re from!
- Scholarships are available to international students through both universities and external organizations. The criteria for being awarded a scholarship depends on the university/organization offering the scholarship. Note: doctoral studies are treated the same as a salaried job and students are paid a monthly salary.
- Studies in Sweden, like in many other European countries, require you to be independent. You are encouraged to figure stuff out on your own, which might take some time to get used to. There’s a lot of group work as well.
- Prepare yourself for the winter, mentally and otherwise. Like with other Nordic countries the winters last long, are very cold and dark and there’s lots of snow! So, keep that in mind!
- Regarding career opportunities in Sweden, if you’re not from the EU/EEA, Switzerland or other Nordic countries finding employment is not easy. If you’re a technical person, it’s a little better. Also, I would recommend learning Swedish if you’re planning to find employment after your studies. There are many other factors involved and I will talk about them in detail later on!
Take care and good luck!
