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COUNTRY SEDIGN

Sweden is a prosperous Nordic country, famous for its high standard of living and education throughout the world. If you are a person who loves to explore nature, Sweden can quickly become your favourite destination. Surrounded by majestic mountain ranges, decorated with dramatic forests, and adorned with charming coastlines and lakes, Sweden never fails to amaze.

Almost 90% of the people in Sweden can speak English very fluently, and you will have no difficulties having a conversation with people in English. The number of international students in Sweden is constantly growing for various reasons. The country’s strong economy and poststudy work opportunities can be solid reasons for you to study in Sweden

Why Choose Sweden

You can choose Sweden as your higher education destination for various reasons. Some of the reasons that might attract you are presented in the following section:

Internationally Renowned Education System: Universities in Sweden constantly rank among the best in the world. A degree from a Swedish university is highly respected worldwide. The education system focuses more on group work and actual learning capabilities instead of centring on grades. A student-centric environment builds a good relationship between teachers and students. Moreover, around 90% of the Swedish people can speak fluently in English. So, you will face no difficulty conversing with students and teachers on campus.

Active Student Life: Sweden presents a dynamic and exciting lifestyle for students. The largest international student population can be found in the cities of Uppsala and Lund. Students arrange and organise many events and show their creative ideas. Sweden offers an excellent opportunity to mix with cultures worldwide and celebrate our ideas and vision.

Converse Easily: Even though the official language in Sweden is Swedish, you will face no difficulty expressing your thoughts. In 2017, Swedes ranked second in the world for skills in English as a second language. However, it can significantly benefit you if you learn at least basic Swedish.

Travel Adventure Awaits: Sweden is central to Scandinavia and close to the mainland of Europe. If you love to travel, Sweden offers plenty of unique locations throughout the country. Camping, skiing, hiking, fishing, or ice skating, Sweden offers boundless opportunities for you to explore. The country is referred to as the crown jewel of Northern Europe for its exquisite travel locations.

Home to International Business: Sweden can offer you plenty of opportunities for internships or work experience in many internationally renowned businesses. Sweden houses the main offices of internationally renowned companies like H&M, Volvo, Spotify and many more. Sweden does not have any restrictions on student work hours which can benefit a lot of international students.

Innovative Country: Sweden is considered one of the world’s most modern and innovative countries. Extensive research programs and opportunities in Swedish universities have made it possible. The country excels at art, fashion, and music as well.

Top Universities in Sweden

There are many high-quality universities in Sweden. The following chart views a portion of them.

University Name QS World Ranking
Lund University 97
KTH Royal Institute of Technology 98
Uppsala University 124
Chalmers University of Technology 139
Stockholm University 181
University of Gothenburg 202
Umeå University 333
Linköping University 362

Scholarship Opportunities

Pursuing higher education can be very costly. Sweden is one of the expensive countries to pursue higher education. Luckily, Sweden offers a variety of scholarship for students. Here is a list of scholarship that you can avail of:

Government Scholarships

Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals: SISGP targets highly qualified students from selected countries (Including Bangladesh) and is awarded for full-time Master’s level studies in Sweden. This scholarship covers tuition fees, living costs, and insurance fees.

University Scholarships for International Students

Blekinge Institute of Technology: BTH scholarship is awarded to prospective students of non-EU/EEA countries required to pay tuition fees for Master’s degrees. Students who pursue a master’s degree in business administration, computer science, mechanical engineering, structural mechanics, software engineering, strategic leadership, and telecommunication systems can get this scholarship. The scholarship offers 50% of the tuition fees for the duration of the programme/course. The scholarship does not cover living expenses.

University of Boras Tuition Fee Waiver: Students enrolled in the university can get up to 75% of the tuition fees covered. However, this scholarship does not cover living costs. The payment is not made in monetary terms; instead, the tuition fee will be reduced by the tuition fee waiver.

Chalmers IPOET Scholarship: Students enrolled in the Chalmers University of Technology can get up to 75% of the tuition fees covered. The number of scholarships is generally around 45. Students who perform very well academically can get up to 85% of waiver.

Halmstad University Scholarship: Students enrolled in the university in any discipline can get tuition fee waiver between 25% to 50% in their Master’s degree.

KTH Royal Institute of Technology Tuition Fee Waivers: Every year, a limited number of this scholarship is awarded based on academic excellence to students who have applied for a master’s programme at KTH as a priority. The number of scholarships is around 30.

Lund University Global Scholarship Programme: This is a selective and merit-based scholarship programme awarded to students outside of the EU, for the bachelor’s or master’s programme offered at Lund University. Scholarship may cover 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of the tuition fee.

Uppsala University Global Scholarships: This scholarship is offered to fee-paying students (non-EU) applying for Master’s programmes at Uppsala University. It is a partial tuition fee waiver for students.

Eligibility Criteria

To study in Sweden, you must fulfil specific requirements. These requirements vary from institution to institution. To provide a basic idea of what you need before coming to Sweden for your higher education, here is a list:

Language Proficiency:

  • IELTS score of minimum 6.5 or equivalent TOEFL score

Undergraduate Eligibility:

  • High School qualifications
  • Grades from previous education
  • Entrance qualification

Master’s Eligibility:

  • Certificates of undergraduate degree
  • Necessary documents as per institution requirements

Trending Courses in Sweden

Sweden offers a variety of courses for students. You can seldom go wrong with any course as the country provides quality education in every sector. A few courses that might interest you are:

Engineering As a forefront of the modern world, engineering degrees are of great value in Sweden. Top-ranked universities in Sweden offer quality engineering courses.
Business Studies Sweden houses many international business organisations. Hence, a degree in business will increase the likelihood of getting a reputable job in future.
Design & Arts Swedish universities offer different degrees in this criterion that are highly valued in the country.
Computer Science & IT All the advanced countries in the world are focusing more and more on IT and computer science. A degree in this sector will keep you ahead of the competition.
Medicine A degree in medicine from Sweden can make you a specialist in the field. Sweden offers bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs in medicine at reputable universities.

Institutional Requirements

Institutional requirements vary from university to university. Here is a list of the most common documents students need to submit during their application at a Swedish University:

Completed application form Proof of paying the application fee (if applicable)
High school certificate (For Bachelors) Bachelor’s certificate (For Master’s)
Transcript of records Photographs
Passport and necessary IDs Motivation letter
Language proficiency documents (For English- TOEFL, IELTS) Certificates of medical wellbeing

Required Documents

Required documents for Scholarship application:

  • Letter of Recommendation
  • Photographs
  • Government-issued IDs
  • Transcript/Record of marks
  • Certificate of graduation from the last school
  • Proof of excellent academic performance
  • Outline of graduation thesis (if required)
  • Proof of language proficiency ability in English
  • Work experience (if required)
  • Medical history

Documents needed for PR:

  • Permanent residence application form
  • Photographs
  • Certificate of residence
  • Proof of employment
  • Proof of income
  • A copy of my passport

Permanent Residency Opportunity

If you decide to stay in Sweden after completing higher studies, you need to apply for permanent residency. Non-EU residents must prove that they are employed for full five years, and they can support themselves and their families (if applicable). After staying in Sweden for five years, you can apply for PR.

Getting a PR will significantly help you in the future. You will not require to renew your permit to live and work in Sweden after getting your PR. You can also freely change your jobs. Under reunification law, you can bring your family members to Sweden. However, if you leave Sweden for an extended period, your permanent residency will be revoked. The requirement for getting a PR is as follows:

  • You must live in Sweden for five consecutive years
  • You must have a valid residence permit for five years
  • You must be able to support yourself through employment and your family (if applicable)

Academic Costs and Living Expenses

Academic costs in Sweden vary from university to university and also depends on the course. Here is a list of average cost depending on courses in Swedish universities:

Course Criteria Average Cost in USD (Yearly)
Social Sciences & Humanities 9,603 – 13,204
Technical & Natural Sciences 14,405 – 17,406
Architecture & Design 22,808 – 35,412

The costs are for bachelor’s and master’s degree costs. However, they are free for all students for PhD programmes, regardless of their country of origin.

Living costs in Sweden are higher than in most other countries. It would be best if you accounted for the costs of your living in Sweden before coming here. In the following list, an average cost for a typical international student is presented.

Description Average Monthly Cost in USD
Food 240
Accommodation 500
Local Travel 66
Phone and Internet 36
Miscellaneous 184
Total 1028

All expenses are indicative. The lifestyle of a student can significantly change the expenses. Sweden is expensive in almost all cases. However, you can reduce the cost by sharing accommodation and following proper guidelines.

Getting the Visa

To get a student visa in Sweden, you must go through a step-by-step process. These steps are summarised in the following section:

Your first step is to receive an acceptance letter from a Swedish university for applying for a Swedish student visa. Students who have full-time programmes can apply for the visa. For programmes that are longer than six months, the visa you require is the Long Stay Visa Type D. To receive your approval for a Swedish student visa; you need to pay the first-semester tuition fees and the proof of payment. Here is a list of documents that you require for getting a student visa:

1. Passport
2. Visa Application Form
3. Photographs
4. Cover Letter
5. Confirmation of Enrolment
6. Tuition Fees Payment Receipt
7. Academic Documents
8. Financials Means
9. Health Insurance
10. Birth Certificate
11. Police Clearance
12. Accommodation Details

Tips and Tricks

After your successful admission to a Swedish university, it is finally your time to fly in here. It can become a little tricky to adjust to a new environment, but if you remember a few tips and tricks like the following list, you will enjoy Swedish academic life in no time.

Find Affordable Tuition & Scholarship in Sweden: As you already figured out, Sweden can be costly. So, it is essential that you adequately finance your expenses. Sweden offers a lot of scholarship opportunities. Try to find the best one according to your budget and expectation.

Keep Your Food Costs Down: It can be very tempting to eat in charming restaurants and cafes in Sweden. Frequent outing in such places can quickly eat up your budget. To save money, you can cook your food or share kitchen facilities. It can also be a healthier alternative.

Work Part-time: You can work part-time in Sweden as a student. However, competition for part-time jobs is high in Sweden, especially in student concentrated towns. You can use reference from your university, student clubs, or social circles to quickly find a suitable job.

Career Counselling: Universities in Sweden offer career counselling. Many universities organise career fairs, where representatives from different companies explain the recruitment process. Try to attend these fairs as they can broaden up your career opportunities.

Avail Student Discounts: Several shops, cafes, restaurants, and gyms offer discounts for students. Do not forget to avail these opportunities.

Embrace the Swedish Way: Moving to a completely different place can sometimes seem like a daunting task. Swedish culture is a bit different from the norm, and cities are expensive to live in. However, the high standard of living and peace-loving nature of Swedes and the environment of Sweden will welcome you with a warm gesture. Make local friends, travel, focus on your academic goals, and enjoy your life to the fullest.

Testimonial from Students

Reading about all these things can be overwhelming. Let us help you ease into things with direct communication from our team members. You can also hear directly from the students who are living in Sweden.

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